SAN DIEGO—The San Diego City Council officially passed an ordinance on May 17 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products—including menthol—in the city, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
The move—spearheaded by Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert—follows similar actions in cities such as Imperial Beach, Encinitas, and Solana Beach, along with San Diego County for unincorporated areas. It also comes months before a statewide referendum tackling the issue in November.
The council passed the first reading of the issue in April. This second vote makes the ordinance—known as the Stop Adolescent Addiction From E-Cigarettes or SAAFE Act—a law.
“I thank my colleagues for standing with me to stop Big Tobacco from addicting an entire new generation of youth on tobacco products by officially approving the SAAFE Act,” von Wilpert said. “Flavored tobacco products are intentionally marketed to kids and I am proud that our city is taking action to prevent the sale of these products and protect our youth.”…