SACRAMENTO — California will ban the sale of flavored tobacco in retail outlets, including flavored e-cigarettes that a lot of blame for a sharp increase in vaping among youths.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday to outlaw the sale of fruit-, menthol- and mint-taste cigarettes and vaping cartridges, productive Jan. 1. The governor acted hrs immediately after the state Senate voted unanimously to give closing acceptance to SB793 by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo.
Hill mentioned the broad greater part of youths who use tobacco are hooked by “kid-friendly” products, with flavors these types of as cotton candy and bubblegum.
“Menthol cigarettes, sweet cigars, candy vapes and other flavored tobacco merchandise serve a single reason: to mask the harshness of tobacco and get customers hooked to a unsafe lifelong habit,” Hill reported in a assertion.
Newsom previously explained he would get “deep delight and private privilege” in signing the invoice, specifically as a father of 4 young youngsters. The governor has supported a new vaping tax and introduced endeavours to control youth vaping.
Hill’s invoice does not implement to on line profits of tobacco items, which frequently cross state lines, with sellers not headquartered in California. The evaluate also would not prohibit the particular possession of flavored tobacco.
Retail merchants that violate the ban would have to spend $250 per violation, nevertheless it is unclear no matter whether that would mean a $250 penalty for each product bought or for every transaction.
The bill was opposed by tobacco-marketplace teams and lobbyists, including the Vapor Technology Affiliation. They urged vape users to ask Newsom to veto the monthly bill, arguing that e-cigarettes help people who smoke stop.
“As California’s economic system carries on to deal with COVID-similar troubles, the past matter its point out leaders ought to be performing is driving folks back to cigarettes, shuttering small organizations and slashing careers,” Tony Abboud, government director of the Vapor Technological know-how Association, stated in a statement.
Hill carried a identical monthly bill last year, but shelved the evaluate following he stated amendments gutted its intent by exempting tobacco solutions patented just before 2000.
He reintroduced the evaluate this year devoid of that broad exemption. The bill had the guidance of 29 co-authors, which includes point out Sens. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Steve Glazer, D-Orinda. Other supporters integrated the American Lung Association and American Coronary heart Affiliation.
Hill’s ultimate bill was amended to exempt the sale of flavored quality cigars and loose-leaf pipe tobacco. Top quality cigars are also exempt if marketed in cigar lounges and eaten only on the premises. Hookah shops are also exempt.
Federal knowledge display that 5 million U.S. significant faculty and center university pupils vaped in 2019, a major improve from 3.6 million in 2018, and that sweet and fruity flavors are common among the youths.
“The California Legislature these days despatched an unmistakable concept to significant tobacco that our children’s health is far more vital than a lethal industry’s gains,” Lindsey Freitas, advocacy director for the Marketing campaign for Tobacco-Absolutely free Little ones, explained in a assertion.
Chronicle staff author Catherine Ho contributed to this report.
Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle workers writer. E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @dustingardiner
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