NC teens: We went to Raleigh to fight for a bill. We got a lesson in democracy. | Opinion

We’re part of a Teen Council that visited the North Carolina General Assembly in late April to advocate for stronger nicotine sales regulations.

Vapes, nicotine pouches, tiny fruit-flavored cigars – these items are easily available to high school students in North Carolina, one of just six states that hasn’t raised the sales age from 18 to 21. Even one in 10 NC middle schoolers say they vape!

We’re trying to change all this with House Bill 430. We’ve met with dozens of state lawmakers, visited local government meetings and participated in media interviews.

Here’s what we want other young people to know: We felt heard.

Government can seem inaccessible – especially for people under 18, who can’t vote yet. But we found some of the most powerful political leaders in our state willing to meet with us, and to listen.

Does that guarantee our bill will pass? No. In fact, key state legislators asked questions that made their hesitations clear.

This back-and-forth is part of democracy. Yet, too often, young people are left on the margins of that process. We’re here to challenge that – to show that we not only can participate, but that our voices are essential.

Elected officials listened to us, despite our age, because we were passionate about our cause, practiced in our arguments, and open about our firsthand experiences. We weren’t subject-matter experts, even though we had incredible support from the Tobacco 21 Coalition, but we approached each conversation with respect and spoke with conviction.

They also listened because they know we have power. Just over 20% of the U.S. population is under the age of 18. In North Carolina alone, that’s 2.4 million people. Elected officials know that students who engage now are extremely likely to vote in a few years, and that they’re going to remember how they were treated.

This is the heart of advocacy: Politely reminding everyone involved that you speak up, and you vote.

So far our bill hasn’t moved. It hasn’t even been heard in a legislative committee, which is a key first step. But we’re not done fighting.

Our council feels strongly that North Carolina must better protect young people from vapes, nicotine pouches and other nicotine products – especially fruit and candy-flavored products that are clearly marketed to young people and have become common in our schools.

As we said: North Carolina is one of six states that hasn’t raised the sales age from 18 to 21. It’s one of seven states that doesn’t require stores selling nicotine products to have a permit. North Carolina’s youth vaping rate is twice the national average, according to Centers for Disease Control figures. That’s not a coincidence. We know how easy these products are to get.

Our bill would raise the age and add a crucial new enforcement structure to give the law teeth. It would add a $400 fee on retailers to pay for enforcement, and the permitting requirement would create a list of licensed sellers so officials know which locations to inspect.

Again: This is similar to the law in 43 other states. It makes sense, but we know we have to stay involved to make it happen in North Carolina.

So how can young people get involved in issues they care about? Those 21 and younger can sign up online to join our coalition.

But plenty of issues are important! We encourage you to think about what’s important to YOU and research who’s already working on that issue. Reach out, get connected, and don’t be afraid to step into the conversation. If it feels intimidating, you’re probably right where you need to be.

And, as soon as you’re eligible, register to vote. You can pre-register as early as 16.

Then vote. Take an hour a month or two ahead of the next election to read up on the candidates. Reach out to them - they usually have a website. Ahead of an election is when they want to talk to people most.

They know you have power. They will remember you during their terms in office if they hear from you at election time.

We will remember, too.

Ada Watson is a rising senior at Chapel Hill High School and Taylor Ward is a rising sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill. They penned this column on behalf of the 34-member Tobacco 21 Teen Council, a student group advocating for passage of stronger nicotine sales regulations.