Grand Jury Report on Vaping

On May 9, 2019, the 2018-2019 Marin County Civil Grand Jury released a report that addresses rapidly growing youth tobacco use spurred by the emergence of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes). In their report, the Grand Jury Report recommends a four-pronged approach to combat vaping: (1) Limit the availability of flavored tobacco; (2) Educate students, teachers and parents; (3) Enforce the new tobacco sales bans; and (4) Support students already addicted to nicotine. To comply with state law, the City is required to respond to all Grand Jury reports within 90 days. At Monday’s meeting, the City Council will receive a brief presentation from City staff that provides an overview of the Grand Jury report, including their findings and recommendations, as well as consider a formal response to the Grand Jury.

Although this isn’t part of the Grand Jury report, I think it’s important to mention that on June 17, 2019, the City Council adopted an ordinance to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products citywide and ban the sale of all tobacco products at pharmacies. This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2021.