The ban on tobacco and nicotine provokes negative reactions among businessmen in a coastal city

Officials in Tiburon, California, have taken steps to ban the sale of all types of tobacco.

On Wednesday, the city council unanimously approved an ordinance that would ban the sale of cigarettes, cigars, vaporizers, e-cigarettes and all other nicotine products.

Tiburon Mayor Holli Thier told News Digital in a statement that she is “pleased to have sponsored” and “voted to save lives and save our environment.”

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“With local Marin County youth smoking twice the national average, it is critical that we make every effort to reduce teen addiction,” he added. “By banning all tobacco sales here in Tiburon, we prevent young people from becoming addicted and protect our environment.”

Cigarettes are the largest source of single-use plastic entering the world’s rivers, bays and oceans, Thier said.

An anti-smoking group of high school students from across Marin County, the Youth Advocacy Committee (YAC), was present at some city council meetings to advocate for the ordinance.

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Diana García, a YAC student, reiterated her strong support for the ban.

“I urge you to continue supporting this amendment to protect the health and future of our youth. You have the opportunity to set an example for communities to follow,” he said at the Nov. 5 meeting.

In 2022, nearly 50 million American adults reported using a tobacco product, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The CDC also reports that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths each year, and that “smoking harms[ing] almost all organs of the body and cause[ing] many diseases.”

The 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine ranked Marin County as the healthiest county in California.

“We remain committed to working hard and changing outcomes so everyone in Marin can thrive and live healthy lives,” Niccore Tyler, Marin County health and human services strategy director, said at the time.

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The California Fuels & Convenience Alliance wrote a letter of opposition to the city council.

“We believe this blanket ban sends a discouraging message to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Small businesses, including convenience stores and gas stations, are essential to communities and provide residents with convenient access to everyday needs,” it reads.

“Outright bans on product categories, rather than reasonable regulation, send the message that small businesses may face unpredictable restrictions, creating uncertainty that discourages entrepreneurship and investment in Tiburon,” the letter continues.

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The ordinance will go into effect in December.