AB 935 would outlaw tobacco sales to adults starting in 2028

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** Holy smoke! CA bill proposes lifetime ban on tobacco sales to everyone born after 2006
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Dear John,

If you think it's impossible for California legislators to become any more sanctimonious and authoritarian, think again. A new bill introduced this month by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) proposes a lifetime ban on the sale of all tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2007.

Connolly’s bill, AB 935 ([link removed]) , would mean anyone who is 16 years old today — who under current law cannot legally buy tobacco products until they turn 21 in 2028 — would never be able to buy tobacco products regardless of their age. Not when they turn 21, 41 or 71 years old.

Or as Politico reporter Jeremy White explains, "So current smokers could keep smoking. But no young Californians could ever consume."

Welcome to California, where marijuana is sold legally throughout the state and minors are allowed to make their own decisions on everything from abortion to "gender-affirming" care, but the sale of legal tobacco products to 21-year-olds is public enemy number one.

And forget enjoying your favorite cigar. Connolly’s bill threatens steep fines on cigar-loving Californians. The tobacco products in Connolly's proposed ban include “cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, vaping liquid, or snuff and more."

Yes, smoking and chewing tobacco are bad for your health. And yes, tobacco use causes myriad health problems that cost the state plenty in health care dollars, but so does a whole host of other lifestyle choices. Where does that line get drawn?

"[A]dults are given discretion on using these things, because, in a free society, adults are assumed capable of making their own decisions," wrote the Orange County Register this week in an editorial ([link removed]) against AB 935.

Jackson Reese, CPC's Vice President and proud cigar aficionado, went one step further.

"California lawmakers are total hypocrites in the way the legislate," said Reese. "They cast themselves as freedom fighters to pass everything on their woke agenda, but are complete despots when it comes to anything else. Tobacco has been on their hit list for years."

Legislators have already banned the sale of flavored tobacco in California and the state tax on cigarettes is one of the highest in the nation.

Assembly Bill 935 is expected to be heard in committee in the next few weeks. If you agree that Connolly's bill is government overreach, please sign CPC's petition ([link removed]) telling legislators to vote NO on AB 935. You can also use CPC's Take Action Tool to contact your local legislator directly here. ([link removed])
SUPPORT CPC ([link removed])


** Training: How to Effectively Engage with the Media
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CLEO and Parent Union Members! Whether you're a parent group leader or newly-elected school board member, you understand just how important it is to communicate effectively with the media. From getting your message out to parents and constituents to maintaining a good working relationship with the press, knowing the ABCs of successful media communications is essential.

If you're a CLEO or Parent Union member, you're invited to a special lunchtime virtual media training with Fred Fourcher, founder and board chair of Bitcentral, Inc., a nationwide news distribution network. Fred is an Emmy-award winning innovator and news industry leader; he will give a brief presentation before taking your questions.

Event Information

What: Media Training and Q & A with Fred Fourcher
When: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 12:00-12:45pm
Where: Virtual via Zoom (Zoom link to be provided before the event)

Please RSVP below for the media training.

RSVP for CLEO/Parent Union Media Training ([link removed])


** Coming Soon: CPC's Regional Education Reform Townhalls
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Would you like to host an education reform townhall in your community?

CPC's Lance Christensen is launching a statewide tour this spring on the future of K-12 education in California. Christensen, CPC's Vice President of Education Policy and Government Affairs, is hitting the road for a series of regional townhalls across the Golden State.

"My intent is to put all options for reform on the table and discuss them vigorously among those who not only care about our children but are also ready to roll up their sleeves and take on the institution that has failed us for far too long," explained Christensen.

"I want to invite open dialogue that will allow us to diagnose the problem and engage in a lively exchange on potential changes, improvements and structural reforms necessary to realign our educational priorities and trajectory for a thriving 21st century California," Christensen said.

To learn more about the statewide tour, read Lance's announcement here ([link removed]) . If you're interested in hosting an education townhall in your community, please sign up here ([link removed]) .

SUPPORT CPC ([link removed])
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** Radio Free California #265: Ladies and Gents, Pro-Smoking Advocate Rob Reiner!
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CPC president Will Swaim takes a deep-dive into AB 935, the newly-introduced bill that would ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2006 — forever. And, Will interviews author and CPC board chairman Robert Loewen (‘Lioness of Leiden’) and Philip K. Howard (‘Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions’). Listen now. ([link removed])

More from CPC ()


** Lone Star Bound
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Frisco, Texas has been making headlines for the number of companies flocking to the city to take advantage of its business-friendly environment and rapid growth. CPC research associate Sheridan Swanson examines why so many California companies are moving to Frisco and the Lone Star State. Read the article. ([link removed])
CPC's Parents, Not Partisans Summit in The Epoch Times

CPC's Parents, Not Partisans Legislative Summit was featured in The Epoch Times this week. Find out why CPC's summit was what Lance Christensen calls "a testament to the resilience of putting parents before partisanship.” Don't miss the story here. ([link removed])


** Quote of the Week
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ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER

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