The Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance on June 1 that will ban the sale of flavored nicotine – including e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes – making Los Angeles the largest city in the nation to approve a ban on flavored tobacco products.

“As city leaders, we have a sacred duty to protect our youth from the deadly Big Tobacco agenda,” said Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District. “We answered that call by making sure tobacco companies can no longer use candy-flavors like peach gummy or minty-menthol to lure our kids into trying nicotine, a highly addictive substance that harms brain development and leads to a lifetime of health issues and a shorter lifespan.”

“The Los Angeles City Council’s vote to end the sale of flavored tobacco products will save lives and promote health equity, and it will stop Big Tobacco’s deadly tactic of using candy-flavors, including menthol, to addict kids, Black Americans and other targeted groups,” said Lindsey Freitas, regional advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “California and the nation should take [this] historic progress as a clear call to stand on the right side of history and protect kids from becoming the next generation of Big Tobacco’s customers.”

“Ending the sale of candy-flavored nicotine across the city means tobacco companies cannot mask the harshness of cigarette smoke to make it more appealing to children and teens, and they can’t use menthol to target the African-American community,” said Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, 8th District. “I am proud to stand with a coalition of parents, students and public health leaders in passing [this] ordinance.”

The ban will go into effect on Jan. 1.