California lawmakers are gearing up to debate a new measure that would put an end to the sale of tobacco products over the next several decades. If passed, retailers would be banned from selling tobacco to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2007 — ever.
“This is not about taking away current rights of anyone; it’s about not creating a new generation of people addicted to nicotine,” said Damon Connolly, the author of the measure.
Assembly Bill 935 wouldn’t affect current tobacco users, but anyone born after 2006 wouldn’t be able to buy them. The ban would also not apply to marijuana or hookah sales.
Of course, the tobacco industry isn’t thrilled about this proposal, and neither are some retail tobacconists. Charles Janigian, president of the California Association of Retail Tobacconists, called the measure “a waste of time for the legislature,” adding that it could lead to a significant loss of tax dollars collected through tobacco sales. That money currently goes toward funding health-related programs, he argues.
The bill, however, is not without its supporters.
“The solution is a sustainable one, we should not punish our young people for the harms of an industry built on the exploitation of people,” said Oussama Mokeddem, the director of State Policy for Public Health Advocates.
Interestingly, this proposal comes on the heels of a ballot initiative that banned the sale of most flavored tobacco products, which was launched by the tobacco industry. State lawmakers and the governor had previously approved the ban in 2020. If the new proposal goes through, it’s likely the tobacco industry will challenge it in court.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Each year, more than 480,000 Americans die from smoking cigarettes.
