Proposition 31: Flavored tobacco products ban referendum

Proposition 31 would keep the previous ban on flavored tobacco products in California that was originally put in place through Senate Bill 793.

Voting against the bill would repeal the previous ban and allow the sale of flavored tobacco in California once again. 

Those in support of holding up the ban say that flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes act as a gateway drug for children to start smoking. Supporters also claim Prop. 31 saves taxpayers money when it comes to tobacco related hospital visits.

“A lot of people, they either [smoke flavored e-cigarettes] themselves, or they see people doing it,” Hunt said. “It negatively impacts us because, in the bathroom, you’re like, this is so gross and I can’t breathe right now.”

Those against Proposition 31 argue that selling tobacco products to those under 21 is already illegal and that the proposition costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually while pushing flavored tobacco sales underground and allowing “gangs” to profit from illegally selling them, according to the No on Prop 31 website.