In what I find a shocking policy revelation, the director of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Research and Education stated on ABC News that she supports a nearly complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes in San Francisco while real cigarettes continue to be sold with almost no restrictions (the story begins at 37:58).
In 2019, the city of San Francisco banned the sale of virtually all e-cigarettes. The only products allowed to be sold are those which are tobacco-flavored. This represents about 95% of the e-cigarette market. On the other hand, the city allows the unfettered sale of deadly tobacco cigarettes. The only restriction is that menthol cigarettes may not be sold. This represents about 37% of the cigarette market.
The reason for the news story is that the city recently cracked down on two companies that were allegedly selling flavored e-cigarettes by mail order into the city. A court injunction now prevents them from continuing the illegal sale of flavored e-cigarettes online when the shipping address is in San Francisco.
The Rest of the Story
I never thought I would see the day when a tobacco control organization called for the removal of fake cigarettes from the market but the continued sale of the real ones.
If San Francisco did the exact opposite (banned real cigarettes and allowed the fake ones), it could potentially produce a huge reduction in smoking-related morbidity and mortality.
Destroying the flavored e-cigarette market is the biggest favor that San Francisco could do for the cigarette industry. There are unequivocal data showing that flavored e-cigarettes are economic substitutes for cigarettes. Thus, a flourishing flavored e-cigarette market is a huge threat to the profits of cigarette companies. Eliminating this alternative market removes the bulk of the competition from cigarettes, which bolsters cigarette sales.
Why San Francisco helping to increase profits for cigarette companies?
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