Supreme Court Paves Path for California Flavor Ban
Credit: Niro World
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday rejected a last-minute plea from the tobacco industry and cleared the way for California to enforce a statewide ban on the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.
The court’s action has the effect of upholding a measure passed by the Legislature in 2020, which in turn was approved by 63 percent of voters in November. It is due to take effect next week, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Washington attorney Noel Francisco, who served as U.S. solicitor general under then-President Trump, filed an emergency appeal with Justice Elena Kagan on Nov. 29, asking her and the high court to stop California’s statewide ban from taking effect.
Kagan referred the appeal led by R.J. Reynolds to the full court, which issued a brief order denying it without comment and with no dissents.
The outcome is a victory for anti-tobacco advocates who called for cracking down on e-cigarettes and eliminating youth-friendly flavors such as bubble gum, cotton candy and cherry.
California joins Massachusetts and New York in prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco.