Be aware! Signature gatherers are now collecting signatures across California to overturn the flavored tobacco law by putting it on the November 2022 ballot.

What can you do? Decline to sign! Do not sign the petition to overturn the flavored tobacco law. Signature gathers are lying by telling people that signing the petition will protect kids from flavored tobacco. That is the opposite of the truth. The new law protects kids from flavored tobacco; while this petition seeks to overturn the new law.

An ANR staff member was approached by a signature gatherer while standing in line at a grocery store in Oakland this weekend, who boldly said “sign the petition for a ban on flavored tobacco.”

What else can you do? Spread the word! Tell your family, friends, and coworkers about this deceptive, dangerous tobacco industry ploy to harm our kids and communities.

What will happen? If the tobacco industry is successful in gathering enough signatures—and they likely will be successful—the repeal will be on the November 2022 ballot and the flavored tobacco law will NOT go into effect unless it’s upheld in the 2022 election.

What's at stake? According to Fight Flavored Tobacco California, during the 22 months that implementation of the flavors law is delayed, the tobacco industry will generate $1.1 billion in revenue from menthol cigarette sales alone in California alone. And approximately 37,000 high school students will become e-cigarette users.

Why is this happening? The tobacco industry knows that California’s flavored tobacco law will reduce tobacco sales and hurt their bottom line. This is the same bad behavior know to expect from tobacco companies. They’re trying to protect their profits at the expense of the health of California’s kids and communities.

Big Tobacco knows they can’t hook kids on tobacco without menthol and candy flavors. They’ve spent tens of millions of dollars desperately lobbying and losing campaigns to keep selling their sweet flavors in dozens of cities and counties across California, and now they’re trying to overturn the new statewide law.

Thank you for spreading the word, and stay tuned for more information.