Statewide Rural Coordinating Center
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
Thank you for this opportunity to voice concerns related to commercial tobacco and other nicotine and vaping product use in Crescent City. Well researched scientific research supports the implementation of either a Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) mechanism or other flavor restricting ordinance(s) that address the negative health and economic impacts of these products.
I would like to share some facts pertaining to flavored tobacco and nicotine products. Youth vaping rates are on the rise. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General noted the rapid increase in kids smoking and declared the use of e-cigarettes an epidemic among youth.1Four out of five kids who vape nicotine use flavors 2 and 15–17-year-olds are 16 times more likely to use Juul than those older than them. 3 4 This in large
part can be credited to the fact that e-cigarette devices sold with flavors are targeted directly at children. And the tobacco industry has a long history of using flavored tobacco to target youth. 5 These
are just some of the reasons why TRL ordinances are so important. TRLs have worked in other locations to protect the health of the community. For children and teens living in areas with strong licensing requirements, there is less of a chance that they will even begin using e-cigarettes and cigarettes. 6 7 As
of January 2021, over 60 communities in California have eliminated the sale of all flavored tobacco. 8 Again, after the implementation of a strong Tobacco Retail License youth use rates have decreased over time in other similar areas.
As you consider moving forward with a TRL and flavor ban and the impact it will have on the health of Crescent City, know that it is a decision that protects the people in this city. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected] and I can offer support and assistance.
Sincerely,
Emily Goldstein, MSW | California Health Collaborative
North Coast Regional Coordinator | RISE (Rural Initiatives Strengthening Equity) 1 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/surgeon-general-advisory/index.html 2 Am J Prev Med. 2017 Aug;53(2):139-151. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.026. Epub 2017 Mar 16. 3 https://www.flavorshookkids.org/
4 https://truthinitiative.org/press/press-release/new-study-reveals-teens-16-times-more-likely-use-juul-older-age-groups 5 Ambrose, B.K., et al., Flavored Tobacco Product Use Among US Youth Aged 12-17 Years, 2013-2014. JAMA,2015: p.1-3. 6 Astor RL, Urman R, Barrington-Trimis JL, et al. Tobacco Retail Licensing and Youth Product Use. Pediatrics. 2019;143(2):e20173536 7 https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/health/tobacco-retail-licensing-youth-smoking-study/index.html 8 https://truthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/media/files/2020/04/Local-flavored-tobacco-policies.pdf [email protected] | (707) 234-5352
ca-rise.org | healthcollaborative.org