John,

California voters have delivered a resounding victory for kids over the tobacco industry by overwhelmingly approving Proposition 31, a ballot referendum to uphold the state’s landmark law ending the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

Momentum is growing across the U.S.

The California vote shows that voters strongly support eliminating flavored tobacco products. It also provides powerful momentum for similar action by other states and cities, as well as by the FDA, which has proposed rules prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

With help from advocates like you, we defeated a giant

Tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds spent over $20 million on the referendum to overturn the law California passed in 2020, once again putting profits over lives and making about $800 million in revenue from menthol cigarette sales alone by delaying implementation of the law for two years. But they were defeated by an even more powerful force supporting the law, including a diverse coalition of over 200 public health, medical, parent, civil rights, education, business, faith, community and other organizations, as well as elected officials from throughout California. The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund was proud to be part of this coalition.

The message from this vote is unmistakable

It’s time to stop the tobacco industry from using flavored, nicotine-loaded products to addict another generation of kids. It’s also time to end the industry’s predatory targeting of Black and other communities with menthol cigarettes, which has had a devastating toll on Black lives and is major contributor to health disparities. Researchers estimate that ending the sale of menthol cigarettes in California will lead over 25,000 smokers to quit and save over $400 million in health care costs.

Our national campaign to stop flavored tobacco keeps winning

California joins Massachusetts in ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Three other states – New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island – prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Over 360 localities have prohibited or restricted the sale of flavored tobacco products. Altogether, 25% of the U.S. will now be covered by laws ending the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.

Our staff is working across the country and around the clock to get even more cities and states – and the FDA – to protect kids from candy-flavored tobacco. We're building coalitions, meeting with policymakers, educating the media, organizing constituents and advancing this movement on multiple fronts every day. Let's keep pushing!

Make a contribution to support this critical work >>

As always, thanks for standing with us.

Sincerely,