Gavin Newsom signed the flavored tobacco ban. Now, he’s defending it against repeal

In 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 793 into law, banning most flavored tobacco products — including menthol cigarettes — from being sold in the state.

Now, faced with a referendum on the November ballot that could repeal the measure, Newsom is standing by his decision with a full-throated endorsement.

“Big Tobacco has been targeting our kids, trying to hook our kids on tobacco products, killing literally a generation. It’s time for us to stand up and protect our kids and to push back against Big Tobacco, not just in terms of their efforts to go after our kids but their racist marketing.

Enough’s enough, this is about as easy a question that we’ll be asked this November,” Newsom said in a video posted Friday.

The Democratic governor is the latest top California elected official to endorse the ballot measure (a “yes” vote would uphold the ban); he joins fellow Democrats Sen. Alex Padilla, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and others.

“We’re delighted that this is going to be a priority for the governor, and proud that he’s standing in solidarity with our coalition of parents, teachers, public health groups and social justice groups against inequities,” said Jim Knox of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, a champion of the ban.

Knox pointed out that SB 793 passed with “virtually no opposition” and strong bipartisan support. The tobacco industry spent heavily on a signature campaign to keep the law from taking effect until voters had a say.

“Flavor is really critical. The use of flavors is the cornerstone of the tobacco industry’s deadly business model. They use flavors to specifically target kids and communities of color for nicotine addiction and a lifetime of disease and death,” he said.

Knox said that he anticipates being heavily outspent by the tobacco industry when it comes to the November ballot initiative.

According to the California Secretary of State’s website, the tobacco-industry-funded California Coalition for Fairness spent just over a quarter million dollars between January 1 and March 31 of this year. The group has reported $14.6 million in total contributions during that same period.

By contrast, the Committee to Protect California Kids, funded primarily by nonprofit health organizations, has spent $1.3 million in that time span. It has just over $67,600 in total contributions.

This story was originally published June 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.