Referendum filed to overturn California flavored tobacco ban

[Judi Lynn]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by JudyM (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Politico


By JEREMY B. WHITE 08/31/2020 11:00 PM EDT

Opponents of California’s recently signed ban on flavored tobacco are seeking to overturn the law with a referendum, following a common industry playbook to battle unwanted California laws.

The measure that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on Friday, CA SB793 (19R), prohibits flavored tobacco with an exemption for hookah — a landmark victory for public health interests who have warned that vapes loaded with sweet flavors are hooking a new generation on nicotine. Tobacco and convenience store interests waged a fierce but unsuccessful fight to block the bill.

Now foes of the measure are looking to voters. The California Secretary of State reported Monday receiving a proposal for a referendum that would nullify the law, and the listed filers have past connections to the tobacco industry.

A successful campaign to overturn the just-enacted flavored tobacco ban in America’s most populous state would deal a stinging setback to the growing public health movement to limit or outright ban flavored tobacco. California’s efforts are being closely watched as other states and cities consider similar measures.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/08/31/referendum-filed-to-overturn-california-flavored-tobacco-ban-1314303

[mr_lebowski]

1. Vape juice is not 'flavored tobacco', author doesn't know what they're talking about

It's a flavored liquid containing nicotine which may or may not be extracted from tobacco. Very different from 'flavored tobacco'.

Not to mention, when you're talking about vape juice, 'tobacco' is just another flavor like any other. It's totally artificial, and nothing to do with actual tobacco. And yet 'tobacco flavor' is still allowed. But only that one. And it takes like crap. So you honestly just might as well smoke cigarettes if the only vape juice you can get just tastes like a shitty imitation of tobacco.

I hope the voters overturn it because it's freaking ridiculous, and was based on the bullshit blame that got put on nicotine vaping for all the sick kids ... when the problem actually had nothing to do with nicotine vaping, but rather THC vaping .. and even then it was indirectly through contaminants not the vaping process.

[RamblingRose]

3. It's not just about the "sick kids." There's a whole new generation that is getting addicted to

nicotine and it's a boon for the tobacco industry.

Our daughter started vaping her freshman year of college and is severely addicted to nicotine. She was never a cigarette smoker prior to vaping.

Nicotine is her heroin, the Vape is her 'gun': "I'll Give You My (vape) When You Pry it from My Cold Dead Hands", which sadly may very well be the case. Living with her over the summer was like living with a heroin addict.

It has completely torn our family apart. I don't know what the answer is. She is not 21 but always has juice. I'm sure if they ban it there will always be another way to get it.

[mr_lebowski]

5. Clearly you've never actually lived with a heroin addict ...

Consider yourself lucky.

And if it's 'tearing the family apart' it's because you're letting it, it doesn't have to.

It wouldn't be a boon for the tobacco industry if nobody would buy 'Jool' and those sorts of cig-alike things and just buy reusable mods and bottles of juice to refill them.

Getting rid of flavored juices and forcing people to the cig-alikes like Jool from the grocery store is EXACTLY WHAT BIG TOBACCO WANTS.

They own these companies, and these products are actually profitable for them. They cost the consumer like an order of magnitude more 'per puff' than juice does.

Selling nicotine extract by the gallon to small/independent vape juice manufacturers is a LOSER for them, that is a business they want to crush.

[Hekate]

2. Nicotine is highly addictive in all its forms & flavors. Big Tobacco is a pusher & never quits. nt

[RamblingRose]

4. +1

[JudyM]

6. Locking

Forum hosts’ consensus is that this is not yet important news by LBN standards because the referendum hasn’t gotten signatures yet to get in the ballot.