Calif. City Trying New Approach to Curbing Tobacco Use

FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The Sonoma City Council has approved a measure, which would ban new businesses from selling cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes.

It’s part of an effort to reduce smoking rates, restrict second-hand smoke, and make tobacco less attractive to children. 

In addition to the ban on new businesses, existing tobacco retailers would have to pay $246 a year for a license, which fund a youth-decoy sting program.

Tobacco sales and taxes have seen no shortage of controversy. The taxes are used by the state to fund numerous programs; but, according to recent studies, the government spends huge sums of money to address the problems created by smoking.