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HomeMy WebLinkAbout020420-08.1 February 4, 2020 The Honorable Karen Stepper Members of the Danville Town Council 510 La Gonda Way Danville, CA 94526 Dear Mayor Stepper and Members of the Danville Town Council: cancer, and we are committed to advancing that mission in Danville. To that end, we are deeply concerned about the availability of flavored tobacco products, which is contributing to the growing epidemic that is plaguing our communities here in California and nationwide. Thank you for considering strong policies to protect the health of our youth as part of a tobacco retailer license. We ask that you include ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes that would apply to all flavors, and all stores throughout the town without exception. Together with tobacco provisions previously passed in Danville, this updated policy will go far to protect the lives of our young people from the predatory marketing of the tobacco industry. It is imperative to include menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including e- cigarettes in a policy that aims to address the epidemic of youth tobacco use. Four out of five youth who have ever used a tobacco product started with a flavored tobacco product, and when asked why, say because they come in flavors they like. A recent study concluded that youth who use e-cigarettes are more than 4 times as likely to try cigarettes and nearly three times as likely to smoke cigarettes than those youth who never tried e-cigarettes. In the current proposed ordinance language, the definition of flavored tobacco products does not apply to cigarettes, which would exempt menthol cigarettes from this policy: Flavored tobacco product means any tobacco product, other than cigarettes as defined by federal law, that contains a constituent that imparts a characterizing flavor. A tobacco product whose labeling or packaging contains text or an image indicating that the product imparts a characterizing flavor is presumed to be a flavored tobacco product. I understand that it is the intent of the Town Council and Town Attorney when drafting this provision that menthol cigarettes are meant to be included. We urge you to clarify this language to explicitly apply to menthol cigarettes so that there is no mistake when implementing an enforcing the policy. Eliminating the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, is also a social justice issue. Tobacco companies have aggressively marketed menthol products in communities of color, low income communities and LGBTQ communities. These are the same communities who already bear a greater burden of health disparities, and increasing tobacco use only increases the disparities among some of the most vulnerable in our communities. In the past year, 36 cities and counties throughout California have ended the sale of all tobacco products, and none have exempted menthol. The Town Council needs to make the health of Danville youth a priority and join our neighbors in the 65+ jurisdictions throughout California who have adopted strong policies to end the sale of flavored tobacco products. We urge you to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products townwide, including menthol cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and all other flavored tobacco products at all stores. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 1001 Marina Village Parkway Suite 300 Alameda CA 94501 510.464-8107 Sincerely, Jen Grand-Lejano Government Relations Director, Northern California American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 1001 Marina Village Parkway Suite 300 Alameda CA 94501 510.464-8107