Yes to Protect Kids Launches Campaign on Flavored Tobacco Ban Referendum

The “Yes to Protect Kids” Coalition on Thursday launched its statewide campaign to keep children safe and healthy by ending the sale of candy-flavored tobacco and nicotine products. Numerous California officials, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and Board of Equalization Chair Malia Cohen, spoke during the campaign launch, highlighting the dangers of flavored tobacco products and importance of protecting young people from such products.

Recall, SB 793 (Chapter 34, Statutes of 2020) by then-Senator Jerry Hill would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products throughout California. The law, which was signed into statute in August 2020, was set to take effect at the beginning of last year. However, a referendum sponsored by a coalition of retailers and tobacco industry representatives, including tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris USA, successfully gathered enough signatures to place the law on hold until voters statewide have an opportunity to weigh in during the November 2022 General Election.

The “Yes to Protect Kids” seeks a “yes” vote on the referendum to uphold the flavored tobacco ban enacted through SB 793. CHEAC was a proud supporter of SB 793 and is a supporting member of the “Yes to Protect Kids” Coalition.

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