To eventually outlaw all tobacco sales in the nation’s most populous state, some California politicians have introduced legislation that would make it unlawful to sell tobacco and other goods to anybody born after January 1, 2007.
If passed into legislation, by 2073, everyone wishing to purchase cigarettes would have to present identification proving they are 67 years of age or older. The tobacco industry, which would seek to keep access to its largest US market, is anticipated to fiercely oppose the proposal. The industry might file a lawsuit to stop the prohibition if it were to become law.
The prohibition might also be contested at the polls, with a request that voters prevent it from going into force. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana smoke contains many of the same carcinogens and toxins as tobacco smoke.
The organization claims that additional research is required, but that there is very weak evidence that chronic marijuana use and testicular cancer are related. Given that California collected more than $1.5 billion in tobacco taxes in 2021, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Regulation, the ban may also result in a loss of revenue for the state.
California has previously taken action to try to keep young tobacco usage to a minimum. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill outlawing the sale of the majority of flavored tobacco products in 2020.
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Bill Praised by Public Health Experts
Public health professionals praised the legislation, claiming that the tobacco industry generally takes advantage of the health of American youngsters. Limits on cigarette advertisements gradually increased over time.
Big Tobacco will almost certainly challenge the law. This form of legislation has always been fiercely resisted by the tobacco industry. Alternatively, the tobacco industry might oppose the ban through a ballot initiative and ask voters to stop the law from going into force.
However, the majority of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, are no longer sold thanks to Proposition 31, which was overwhelmingly passed by voters.
Moreover, the flavored tobacco statute in California was not overturned by the US Supreme Court. AB 935 was created to be similar to a law in New Zealand: A regulation that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone who was born after January 1, 2009, was put into effect in the nation last year.
Even at the municipal level, this has previously occurred in the United States: Brookline, Massachusetts, passed a local rule that forbade the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2000, within the city’s boundaries. The law is still in force and has withstood legal scrutiny.
On December 21, 2022, California’s ban on flavored tobacco went into effect, making it illegal for merchants throughout the state to sell flavored vaping and smoking products. After state lawmakers and the governor initially passed the ban in 2020, the tobacco industry filed a ballot challenge; however, voters decided to uphold the law.
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