The Culver City council took the next step to ban flavored tobacco products with a unanimous 5-0 vote on October 14th. The ban did not include vaping but did include menthol cigarettes.
Current tobacco stores to be given a 12-month amortization period, all other retailers have 180-day amortization period, to sell their existing products and come into compliance.
Vice Mayor Goran Eriksson cited the ethnic differences with African Americans heavy use of menthol products and the hookah use in the Mediterranean community. He cited being conflicted where on one hand the city approved 3 cannabis stores yet is banning flavored tobaccos. While supporting the move he felt it would have little impact.
Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells felt it was a good starting point citing the reduced use of tobacco product.
It is disappointing that members of the African-American community, that typically smoke menthol and flavored tobacco products, are being targeted by elected officials. Particularly those who are also African-American.
According to 2010 census data, Culver City has approx. 40,000 residents, of with 52% women and 8% are African-American.
The city’s of Carson, Compton and Los Angeles are also expected to take up this “new” concern with tobacco flavored products, which have more progressive views on cannabis, as cited by the Culver City Vice Mayor Eriksson.
