Wealthy California city votes to ban all tobacco and nicotine sales

A Northern California city has moved to ban the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products from stores in the wealthy enclave.The Corte Madera Town Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to advance an ordinance that would prohibit businesses from selling, commercially distributing or delivering tobacco and nicotine products within the Marin County community, according to SFGate.The sweeping ban would cover traditional cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, as well as newer products such as e-cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco devices and nicotine pouches such as Zyn.Corte Madera — which has an average household income $232,763, according to the U.S.

Census Bureau — is home to roughly 10,000 people.The ordinance would give retailers a limited window to clear out their inventory before the ban takes effect.Under the proposal, stores would be allowed to sell their remaining tobacco and nicotine products through Jan.

31, 2027.Beginning Feb.1, 2027, sales of the products would be prohibited.The measure does not ban residents from personally possessing or using tobacco or nicotine products.The council’s vote came after an emotional public-comment session that included several students from Redwood High School’s Tobacco Use Prevention Education group.Mari Silva, a senior at the school, urged officials to think about families who have already lost loved ones to tobacco-related illnesses, SFGate reported.“Think about the people not here,” Silva said.

“Protect one more family from this kind of loss.”Another Redwood student, junior John Watson, told council members that he lost his grandfather to smoking and said he regularly sees students using tobacco or nicotine products in school bathrooms.“I ask that you help those kids … you will be helping them and an entire generation,” Watson said.The issue has also sparked fierce opposition, with some residents warning that the town could be crossing a dangerous line.Corte Madera resident David Macpherson described the ...