Padilla, Kounalakis Kick Off Campaign to Support Flavored Tobacco Ban

The November election isn’t that far away, and with it comes a referendum on the 2020 law, SB 793, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that bans the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state.

On Thursday, a coalition of groups including the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the California NAACP, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids are coming together with several top state officials with a press conference to kick off the campaign in support of the ban.

Among the California politicians speaking in support of the ban are U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Board of Equalization Chair Malia Cohen and former state Sen. Jerry Hill.

“Once again, California is locked in a battle with Big Tobacco over the health and well-being of our kids. While the FDA is considering action at the national level to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, and Big Tobacco continues to use candy-flavors to hook kids on nicotine, California must take action. That’s why I’m voting YES in November – to protect our kids, and finally end the sale of candy-flavored tobacco in California, including minty-sweet menthols, the original candy-flavored cigarettes,” Padilla said in a statement.

The Zoom press conference kicks off at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The coalition will show off a new 90-second explainer video in support of the flavored tobacco ban.