With California voters supporting the ban on flavored (menthol) tobacco sales throughout the state, one manufacturer has rolled out “non-menthol” cigarettes that some argue are no different than menthol products.
In local 7-eleven throughout Los Angeles County, they continue to sell Newports, but they are marketed as “non-menthol”. The only problem is the stores are hiding the products behind rolling potato chip carts.
If they were “non-menthol” why would they need to be hidden from public view?
There’s supposed to be a ban on menthol, flavored tobacco but my local @7eleven is now selling NON menthol behind the chips 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mmltzHZqMc
— 2UrbanGirls (@2UrbanGirls) April 4, 2023
Assembly Bill 935, introduced in February by Democratic Assemblymember Damon Connolly of San Rafael, would have taken the bold step of banning the sale of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars and vaping liquid, to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2007.
Connolly’s bill struggled to attract backing. By the end of last week, only 10 organizations, including the California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, had sent letters of support to the Assembly Health Committee, where it was first set to be considered, according to an analysis prepared by the committee.
None of seven primary sponsors of the flavored tobacco ban — the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Common Sense, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond — took a public position on AB 935.
Read the full CalMatters article on AB 935 here.
Emilie St. John is a contributing writer for the South Bay Examiner and the Los Angeles Wave newspaper