Los Angeles, Calif. – The Los Angeles City Arts, Parks, Health, Education and Neighborhoods Committee voted today to advance a draft ordinance that would end the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes. The ordinance now moves to full council for consideration.
Tobacco addiction leads to a third of all cancer deaths in California and the nation. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) strongly supports ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products as a critical step to reduce tobacco use and its toll.
Statement from ACS CAN volunteer and Los Angeles Unified School District parent Virginia Escamilla:
“The time is now for the L.A. City Council to finally take a stand and stop Big Tobacco from trying to addict our children in the name of profit. Over 30% of L.A. County students report ever using e-cigarettes. Every year, 6,800 California kids start smoking daily. I urge my councilmembers to take this opportunity to help protect future generations from the scourges of tobacco by ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products.”
Statement from ACS CAN Government Relations Director Primo Castro:
“Research shows that flavors drive the unprecedented increase in youth tobacco uptake, with over 80 percent of youth who have ever tried tobacco starting with a flavored product. And that’s why Big Tobacco is using flavors to target kids – as well as limited-income, Black and Brown and LGBTQ+ communities – and grossly profit at their expense. The tobacco industry’s predatory tactics have resulted in a disproportionate use of menthol products by these communities and a disproportionate cancer burden.
“In order to help reduce health disparities and protect Los Angeles kids from tobacco addiction and tobacco-related disease, it’s imperative that our councilmembers swiftly approve and adopt a strong, comprehensive ordinance that ends the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and flavored shisha.”