The San Diego City Council has officially passed an ordinance that will see the sale of flavoured tobacco products including menthol banned from 1 January 2023, reports kpbs.

The Stop Adolescent Addiction From E-Cigarettes or SAAFE Act has now been made law after the council passed the first reading on the issue in April and the subsequent second vote. The move to pass the law comes before a state-wide referendum on the issue that is due to take place in November.
"I thank my colleagues for standing with me to stop Big Tobacco from addicting an entire new generation of youth on tobacco products by officially approving the SAAFE Act," von Wilpert said. "Flavoured tobacco products are intentionally marketed to kids and I am proud that our city is taking action to prevent the sale of these products and protect our youth," said Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert who fronted the move.
On the other hand, some small business owners were upset about the new law. “To be honest, I might as well shut down. Might as well just shut down,” Kajy said. “It’s not going to stop any kid from getting anything they want. If there’s no flavoured tobacco, they're going to get their marijuana. There’s already cartridges, people already smoke marijuana cartridges in school, that's never going to stop,” said Rami Kajy who owns the Fuego Smoke Shop.
The sale of shisha, premium cigars, and loose-leaf tobacco as well as unflavoured or tobacco-flavoured e-cigarettes and FDA-approved cessation devices are exempt from the ban, reports kpbs.