Holy smoke! CA bill proposes lifetime ban on tobacco sales to everyone born after 2006
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, 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 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 telling legislators to vote NO on AB 935. You can also use CPC's Take Action Tool to contact your local legislator directly here.
|
