New Tobacco Ordinance Moves Closer to Reality

The City Council’s amended tobacco ordinance is one step closer to going into effect.

On Monday the City Council conducted the first reading which would prohibit additional tobacco products.

The ordinance would also prohibit the sale and distribution within the city of mentholated cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, including flavored products for electronic smoking devices, including electronic smoking device liquids, flavored little cigars, flavored hookah, and tobacco look-alike products,” according to a city staff report.

Flavored tobacco products, including flavored hookah, disguise the harshness of tobacco, according to city staff. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 81% of youth who have ever used tobacco products started with a flavored product.

“Flavors not only mask the harsh taste and feel of a tobacco product, but they also increase nicotine addiction,” said OUT Against Big Tobacco in correspondence to the City Council. “Removing them from the shelves adds an additional barrier to non-tobacco users by no longer allowing Big Tobacco to hide their dangerous products behind pleasant tastes and smells.”

In August 2020 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 793 prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products in California except hookah tobacco, loose-leaf tobacco and premium cigars.

In January, a referendum qualified for the ballot putting SB793 on hold until a referendum vote could be conducted in the November 2022 general election.

The proposed ordinance amendments would ensure the Pasadena has banned flavored tobacco rather than wait another year for a referendum vote.

At the Feb. 3, 2020 joint meeting of the Pasadena City Council and the Board of Education, the Pasadena Unified School District adopted a resolution encouraging communities to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products and menthol cigarettes.

The City Council recommended staff evaluate increasing the penalty for violating the Tobacco Use Prevention Ordinance to a misdemeanor, prohibiting local retailers from reapplying for a business license when revoked due to tobacco ordinance violations, and banning the sale of flavored tobacco.

There are 88 local licensed tobacco retailers that sell flavored tobacco, including seven that advertise the sale of hookah products.

In June, Tobacco Control Program staff visited 40 of the retailers to review and discuss their tobacco inventory and sales. The majority of retailers declined to share inventory and sales information.

Last month Tobacco Control Program staff visited the seven Pasadena retailers that advertise the sale of hookah products to review hookah product availability and share of shelf space.

Six of the seven retailers visited were tobacco-only stores. The seventh retailer sold tobacco and other products.

“Since freshman year, I’ve urged City Council to ban flavored E Cigarette products,” said a PUSD student identified as Estrella B. “I am currently a junior and now more than ever, the sales of such products should not be permitted especially when there is a rise in teenage depression, anxiety, etc. it is not news that teenagers use substances as unhealthy ways to cope with such struggles. The generation of youth within the city and all around are under the impressions of adults, as their actions directly mold our very future.”