As described by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention Director, “flavored tobacco products are enticing a new generation of America’s youth into nicotine addiction, condemning many of them to tobacco-related disease and early death.”[1] Measures to eliminate availability to these flavored products is an excellent step to help reduce overall rates of tobacco use among the next generation.

The tobacco industry is using candy and sweet-flavored products to lure a new generation of kids into addiction. E-cigarettes now come in over 15,500 flavors [2], like gummy worm and cotton candy and sweet-flavored cigars make up more than half of the U.S. cigar market [3]. Meanwhile, more than half of youth smokers ages 12-17 use menthol cigarettes, and youth smokers ages 12-17 are three times more likely to use menthol cigarettes than smokers ages 35 and older [4]. Menthol use is even higher among African American youth smokers with 70% smoking menthol cigarettes [5]. All of these flavors have helped fuel the popularity of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cigars among kids. In fact, 81% of youth tobacco users started with a flavored product [6].

By signing this petition, I support the City of Oceanside in restricting the sale of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. I am asking the City of Oceanside to protect residents by prohibiting the sale and distribution of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

As a resident of Oceanside, I am concerned about the availability of these products in our community. Flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, are a gateway for Big Tobacco to continue targeting marginalized and vulnerable communities. I respectfully urge you to take swift action on this public health issue and help protect the youth of Oceanside from the dangers of tobacco products.

References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). 7 in 10 students who current use tobacco used a flavored product [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0930-flavored-tobacco.html

2. Hsu, G., Sun, J.Y, & Zhu, S.H. (2018). Evolution of electronic cigarette brands from 2013-2014 to 2016-2017: Analysis of brand websites. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(3), e80.

3. Delnevo, C.D., Giovenco, D.P., & Lo, E.J.M. (2017). Changes in the mass-merchandise cigar market since the Tobacco Control Act. Tobacco Regulatory Science, 3(Suppl 1), S8-S16.

4. Villanti, A.C., Mowery, P.D., Delnevo, C.D., Abrams, D.B., & Giovino, G.A. (2016). Changes in the prevalence and correlates of menthol cigarette use in the USA, 2004-2014. Tobacco Control, 25(Suppl 2), ii14-ii20.

5. CDC, (2017) Quitting Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2000-2015, MMWR, 65(52): 1457-1464, 
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/pdfs/mm6552a1.pdf

6. California Tobacco Control Program (2017). The truth about menthol cigarettes. California Department of Public Health. Retrieved from www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/CDPH Document Library/Policy/FlavoredTobaccoAndMenthol/FinalMentholInfographic.pdf.