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Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law Friday banning the sale of most flavored tobacco products in California, including flavored vape cartridges.
The vast majority of smokers take up the habit when they’re young, said State Senator Jerry Hill of San Mateo.
“Over 90% of smokers start before the age of 18, and the average age of a new smoker is 13 years of age,” Sen. Hill said. “There’s a mountain of evidence demonstrating that flavored tobacco products play a key role in initiating youth nicotine use.”
So, Sen. Hill wrote the new law banning the sale of most flavored tobacco in the state, including E-cigarettes and Juul products.
He told KCBS Radio that the most critical part of it is the ban on menthol cigarettes.
Retailers that violate the law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2021, could be fined, but premium cigars and pipe and hookah tobacco are exempt. It also doesn’t prohibit the possession of flavored tobacco.
Online sales of flavored tobacco products are allowed, as long as the purchaser is over 21 years of age and the company selling the products is out of state.
The legislation was opposed by industry groups. In a statement, the Vapor Technology Association called it bad policy and said bans don’t work.