Los Angeles Moves Toward Ban on Flavored Tobacco, Exempts Hookah Bars

[EssJaySea]

Los Angeles jumped past a pretty big moment today with its City Council approving a ban on flavored tobaccos. From this LA Times story: L.A. moves to ban selling flavored tobacco, but exempts some hookah sales - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-16/flavored-tobacco-hookah-menthol-cigarettes-la-city-council

"Tobacco products that come in sweet, fruity and minty flavors could soon be banned from store shelves in Los Angeles, under a proposal backed Wednesday by the City Council."

And:

"Much of the debate at City Hall centered around whether to carve out any exemptions to the proposed ban. Council members opted to exempt some sales of hookah tobacco, but decided against an exemption for menthol cigarettes."

The story also notes a ballot measure about flavored tobacco is likely going to be on California's ballot in November 2022.

 

[bullet08]

Why is hookah off the hook? Elites in CA smoke hookah instead of cigars?

 

[ashdigger]

Ridiculous.

 

[Servant King]

Not surprising. I referenced this malarkey in a post I did back in March:

Los Angeles B&Ms: A Sad State of Affairs :: Tobacco Legislation - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/los-angeles-b-ms-a-sad-state-of-affairs.82810/

I do not envy the brand new pipe smokers looking to start cellaring at this time. Only gonna get harder.

 

[anotherbob]

probably the start of the pipe renaissance or at least some new interesting blends to get around that rule.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

 

[seanv]

I don't live in California but I just hit the 40 lb mark on my cellar. At my rate I may be set for life and that makes me feel good.

 

[EssJaySea]

Why is hookah off the hook? Elites in CA smoke hookah instead of cigars?

I didn't quote from all the story, apologies: an effort by hookah sellers and some push by Armenian and other communities arguing hookahs have cultural significance for them. The city also will be banning menthol cigarettes and there was argument about whether that unfairly focuses on Black communities (vs. whether it just unfairly hurts those communities by contributing to smoking/its associated health impacts).

 

[Country Bladesmith]

It’s not just about tobacco. What we’re seeing is the slow erosion of civil liberties.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It’s not just about tobacco. What we’re seeing is the slow erosion of civil liberties.

Bingo!!!

 

[pantsBoots]

I didn't quote from all the story, apologies: an effort by hookah sellers and some push by Armenian and other communities arguing hookahs have cultural significance for them. The city also will be banning menthol cigarettes and there was argument about whether that unfairly focuses on Black communities (vs. whether it just unfairly hurts those communities by contributing to smoking/its associated health impacts).

So hookah got a cultural exemption. If this passes, does that not create a precedent for any culture that uses tobacco, flavored or otherwise?

 

[anotherbob]

So hookah got a cultural exemption. If this passes, does that not create a precedent for any culture that uses tobacco, flavored or otherwise?

lesson here is make some noise. Ask for it. Make your case. What's different with hookahs? Oh the people who buy and sell them said no. That's it.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I don’t understand how weed-infused gummy bears are good to go, but add a flavoring to tobacco and suddenly you’re “targeting children.”
When was the last time any of these assholes ever saw a kid lighting up a bowl of Erinmore Flake out on the street?
SMMFH

 

[STP]

…and yet marijuana continues to be legalized. Typical hypocritical BS.

 

[bullet08]

Tobacco in its entire form needs to be exempted. It's an age old cultural significance to every red blooded Americans!!! And unlike those tobacco nazis, I guarantee non-smokers will be tolerated, and allowed to share every inch of this beautiful country.

 

[pantsBoots]

…and yet marijuana continues to be legalized. Typical hypocritical BS.

The carcinogens in marijuana smoke have not received the publicity that those in cigarette smoke have (despite quite a few being identical). That's coming down the pike in another 10-15 years.

lesson here is make some noise. Ask for it. Make your case. What's different with hookahs? Oh the people who buy and sell them said no. That's it.

Fortunately, I am not in California, so I do not need to concern myself with this for now. Coming from a tobacco-producing state, we may have to wait forever for legal grass, but illegal 'backer is not likely in the foreseeable future.

 

[weezell]

"The city also will be banning menthol cigarettes and there was argument about whether that unfairly focuses on Black communities" Wait till you see the black market on that and the shootings over Newports...

 

[condorlover1]

Think of the profits to be made in bootleg 'Kool Kings' in a soft pack!!

 

[FurCoat]

It’s not just about tobacco. What we’re seeing is the slow erosion of civil liberties.

It's not even slow anymore, it's full steam ahead

 

[greeneyes]

This was covered in another thread, but are there even any B&Ms left in LA? I can't think of any other than Tobacco Trader.