From: Tobacco Free
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support for Consent Item 13.7 Regulation of Retail Tobacco Sales on 6.4.24 Date: Friday, May 31, 2024 2:32:26 PM
Attachments: Santa Rosa Letter5.21.24.pdf
Good afternoon City of Santa Rosa Council Members,
Please accept this letter of support requesting for the passing of theTRL with the highest of standards - including the ban on sales of electronic smoking devices.
Thank you for your prompt action and keeping our youth healthy! Sincerely,
The Tobacco Free Sonoma County Community Coalition
Tobacco doesn’t just negatively impact the health of individuals; it also endangers the health of the environment.
ESDs and cigarette waste makes its way into the environment where it pollutes water, air, and land with toxic chemicals, heavy metals, plastics, and residual nicotine. Comprehensive local ordinances are needed to reduce the negative environmental consequences of tobacco products. A City of Santa Rosa TRL policy that restricts access to tobacco products, including ESDs is a proven strategy to reduce tobacco product waste and its impact in our county.
To effectively curb the high rates of access to all tobacco products and ESDs in the retail setting, The Tobacco- Free Sonoma County Community Coalition recommends that a comprehensive TRL policy in the City of Santa Rosa must include the following provisions which are consistent with the most protective ordinances established in other local jurisdictions:
·No sale of flavored tobacco products
·No online or delivery sales
·No sale of electronic smoking devices
·Minimum price of $10
·Minimum pack size – 5 little cigars
·No discounts, coupons, or price promotions
·No sale of tobacco in pharmacies
·Limit on the total number of tobacco retailers
·New retailer proximity parameters (E.g., proximity to K-12 schools & parks) Comprehensive TRL requirements are an effective policy tool to generate income for local enforcement which will limit youth initiation of tobacco products, support people who desire to quit, and protect our environment.
We sincerely urge you to approve the proposed Tobacco Retail License policy to maintain a healthy and beautiful City of Santa Rosa.
Sincerely,
Pam Granger
Chair of Tobacco Free Sonoma County Community Coalition Action on Smoking & Health (ASH)
Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership (APPEAL) Aladios Health
Blue Zones Project
California Health Collaborative
Center For Well-Being
Gravenstein Health Action
Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes
Petaluma Health Center
Ruth E. Malone, RN, PhD University of California, San Francisco Santa Rosa Community Health
Sierra Club
Tobacco-Free Sonoma County
*Tobacco products include, for example, electronic smoking devices (e-cigarettes), cigarettes, chew, dissolvables, and any component part or accessory like rolling papers, wraps and pipes.
[1] https://www.undo.org/disease#sources-20
[1] Jackler RK, Ramamurthi D. Nicotine arms race: JUUL and the high-nicotine product market. Tob Control. February 2019: tobacco control- 2018-054796. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054796.
[1] Astor RL, Urman R, Barrington-Trimis JL, Berhane K, Steinberg J, Cousineau M, Leventhal AM, Unger JB, Cruz T, Pentz MA, Samet JM, McConnell R. Tobacco Retail Licensing and Youth Product Use. Pediatrics. 2019;143(2):e20173536. [1] Lawman HG, Henry KA, Scheeres A, Hillengas A, Coffman R, Strasser AA. Tobacco Retail Licensing and Density 3 Years After License Regulations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2012–2019). American Journal of Public Health. 2020;110(4):547–553. [1] Astor RL, Urman R, Barrington-Trimis JL, Berhane K, Steinberg J, Cousineau M, Leventhal AM, Unger JB, Cruz T, Pentz MA, Samet JM, McConnell R. Tobacco Retail Licensing and Youth Product Use. Pediatrics. 2019;143(2):e20173536.