FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 2, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Joining three states and 335 local governments including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose, Mayor Todd Gloria signed today an ordinance by City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert to regulate the sale of flavored tobacco in the City of San Diego.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States and we know big tobacco markets these products to young people and other vulnerable communities, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Im proud to sign Councilmember von Wilperts SAAFE Act. Her work and collaboration with Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell will allow us to join 335 other local jurisdictions to regulate the sale of these products, protect our children and stem the tide of addiction.

The ordinance, known as the Stop Adolescent Addiction to Flavored E-Cigarettes (SAAFE) Act, makes it unlawful for retailers within the City of San Diego to sell or distribute specified flavored tobacco products effective January 1, 2023. This includes any tobacco product that emits a taste or smell other than that of tobacco i.e., fruit, mint, candy, vanilla, dessert, alcoholic beverage, spice and menthol. The ordinance does not apply to the sale of shisha (as typically used in hookahs), premium cigars or loose-leaf tobacco.

A statewide measure to ban the sale of specified flavored tobacco products in California will go before the voters this November. Should the measure be unsuccessful, the Citys ordinance will still go into effect on January 1, 2023.

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