Coalition files initiative to raise state's tobacco tax Save Lives California—a broad coalition of physicians, patients, taxpayers and health care workers—has filed an initiative with the Attorney General’s office that would increase California’s tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack. Through the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, the Save Lives California coalition aims to reduce the death toll—and associated health costs—caused by smoking, while generating some much-needed funds to help improve a variety of the state’s health care programs. “The initiative filed today will benefit Californians by reducing smoking rates and long-term health care ... October 14, 2015 General Political Advocacy, Public Health, Save Lives California, Tobacco, Tobacco Tax 0 0 Comment Read More »
L.A. close to banning smokeless tobacco use at all sports venues in city limits Following the footsteps of its Bay Area neighbors to the north, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously (14-0) to ban smokeless tobacco use from all sports venues within city limits. The rule will apply to players and fans alike. The city attorney was given 30 days to draft the new law, which could take effect as soon as January, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Our parks and stadiums are places for creating healthy choices for the next generation, not for cancer-causing addictions,” L.A. Councilmember David Ryu said in a ... September 23, 2015 General Save Lives California, Tobacco, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Field Poll: Nearly two-thirds of California voters support $2 per pack tobacco tax hike A proposal to raise California’s tobacco tax by $2 per pack is supported by an overwhelming majority of the state’s voters, according to a new Field Poll. The poll, released Aug. 26, shows over two-thirds of California voters support of a $2 tobacco tax hike, with 50 percent of those surveyed saying they strongly favor the increase. The poll was conducted between June 25 and July 16 by way of phone calls. The positive findings reflect the opinions of many health and labor advocates across the state, who believe boosting California’s ... September 8, 2015 General Tobacco, Tobacco Tax, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate passes six bills to help fight impact of tobacco use Six bills aimed at reducing the harmful impacts of tobacco use has passed the California Senate with overwhelming support. The package of bills includes measures that will increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21, regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco products and ensure that schools and workplaces are smoke-free. “We are one step closer to saving the lives of thousands of young Californians,” Eric Batch, vice president of advocacy with the American Heart Association, said in a statement. “If they become law, these reforms will pay dividends for decades into the ... September 8, 2015 General Public Health, Tabacco Tax, Tobacco, Cancer 0 0 Comment Read More »
Report: high levels of cancer-causing chemicals found during e-cigarette tests The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a consumer safety organization based in Oakland, has announced it will take “legal action” against electronic cigarette manufacturers after finding cancer-causing chemicals in a number of “vaping” products. CEH said that it is initiating legal action against the companies for failing to warn consumers of the presence of these cancer causing chemicals, as required under California’s strong consumer protection law known as Proposition 65. CEH's report, “A Smoking Gun: Cancer Causing Chemicals in E-cigarettes,” outlines the first-ever large sampling of actual e-cigarettes and vaping ... September 8, 2015 General Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes 0 0 Comment Read More »
Study: e-cigarette use among youth could lead to smoking other tobacco products Youth who use e-cigarettes as their first method of smoking could transition to smoking regular cigarettes and other tobacco products, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Researchers surveyed 2,530 ninth-graders from 10 Los Angeles public schools for the study. None of the students had ever used combustible cigarettes before the survey, but those who had previously used e-cigarettes (222 students) were found to be more likely to smoke combustible tobacco during the subsequent year. “This study indicates that e-cigarettes are introducing many ... August 28, 2015 General Public Health, Smoking, Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes 0 0 Comment Read More »
Six tobacco bills to be taken up during special session on health Six bills aimed at saving lives and reducing the cost of tobacco-related diseases on California’s health system will be taken up during the Legislature’s second special session to address health care — a meeting ordered by Gov. Jerry Brown. Some of the bills being proposed are the same as those introduced in the Capitol earlier this year, including bills to add e-cigarettes to the existing tobacco products definition and to increase the age of sale for tobacco products to 21. Other bills introduced would allow local jurisdictions to tax tobacco ... July 29, 2015 General State Legislation, State Legislative Advocacy, Tobacco, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Package of six bills would raise smoking age, regulate e-cigarettes and fight youth smoking, among other proposals Sacramento, CA — The Save Lives California coalition praised Senate and Assembly Democrats for announcing a bold package of bills to fight the No. 1 cause of preventable death in California: tobacco use. The bills will be taken up during the second extraordinary session, called by Governor Jerry Brown to address healthcare. In a display of strong cooperation and determination, the two houses have each introduced the same six bills aimed at preventing death from tobacco-related diseases and reducing costs of smoking on California’s health system by reducing smoking and ... July 20, 2015 General Save Lives California, State Legislative Advocacy, Tobacco, Tobacco Tax, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate passes bills to regulate e-cigarettes, raise smoking age Two bills aimed at making it harder for California’s youth to use tobacco products passed in the state Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 151 (Hernandez) would raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 21. SB 140 (Leno) would regulate e-cigarettes similar to combustible cigarettes, including banning their use in the usual “smoke-free” locations, such as schools, restaurants and hospitals. SB 151 was the first of the two bills heard on the Senate floor. It passed on a 26-8 vote. “We will not sit on the sidelines while big tobacco ... June 5, 2015 General Smoking, Smoking Age, State Legislation, Tobacco, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Save Lives California files two ballot initiatives to raise California's tobacco tax An initiative filed with the Attorney General’s Office on May 4 may give California voters the final say on a proposal that would raise the state’s tobacco tax by $2 per pack. The Save Lives California Coalition filed two ballot initiatives with the Attorney General. Both would direct revenue from a new tobacco tax into smoking prevention, cures for tobacco-related diseases and reinforcing the state’s health care system. The only difference between them is that one includes a tax hike on e-cigarettes in addition to combustible cigarettes. The filing is the ... May 18, 2015 General Save Lives California, Tobacco Tax, Public Health, Tobacco 0 0 Comment Read More »
