California Attorney General Commits $37.5 Million to Combatting Tobacco Use In Minors; Pasadena Gets Grant Funds

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the fight against the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to minors was on with $37.5 million allocated to the cause in state grant funding. The City of Pasadena will be one of 71 statewide recipients.

The grants, announced Tuesday, June 12, will fund operations, retailer training programs, sign installation, outreach, tobacco retail license inspections, training for sworn personnel and additional activities.

Becerra said of the initiative, “These grants will provide additional tools to law enforcement to help educate kids about the dangers of smoking and help local communities enforce laws against selling tobacco products to minors. They are an important step toward reducing illegal sales and building a healthier California.”

In November 2016, voters approved the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act, also known as Prop. 56. It raised the cigarette tax by $2 per pack in 2017, with equivalent increases on other tobacco products. Prop. 56 also allocates $30 million annually to local law enforcement agencies for the support and hiring of police for a variety of activities and includes investigations into the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors.