My name is Alvy Mikhael, owner of United Smoke Shop & O Zone Hookah Lounge in El Cajon, CA. I've been apart of the tobacco industry for nearly 10 years. I am writing this petition out of concern in regards to the new bill that was signed to increase the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. How are we going to just stand here and not take action after we just witnessed our young adults rights taken away from them unless they're active military, I would assume that's a form of discrimination. The first day this law took affect we lost 90% of our revenue, affecting myself as well as those employed here. Due to the minimum age increase I had to lay off 3 of our newly hired employees. We recently opened up in early May after making a family investment with well over 150k into opening O Zone and this new law has destroyed our businesses already. Now California has put us and 100's of other businesses in a position where we have to close our doors thus causing loss of jobs to many young adults. Hookah Lounges provide an environment for young adults to study, hang out, and socialize. This new law will keep them from utilizing the atmosphere previously provided to them, leaving them to find potentially unfriendly environments. Other states and countries do not have such strict laws like this in place turning California into a test state for this new smoking law. Smoking is dangerous and we are all aware of that as it's a choice we make as adults. This Law went into affect without the general publics awareness or voting. I'm writing this petition to reevaluate this new Smoking Law and give us TAX PAYERS a chance to stand up for our rights. I'd rather see California raise tobacco tax than take our existing rights away. 

Sincerely, 

Alvy Mikhael