Monterey County Board of Supervisors to ban flavored tobacco sales

SALINAS, Calif., (KION-TV)- Monterey County Supervisors voted to ban single-use e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.

The ordinance now has 30 days to go into effect. 

The ban would apply to unincorporated parts of Monterey County, including Prunedale, Castroville and Moss Landing. 

Some people told KION the ban is a good thing.

“I absolutely think that it's an important thing for the county to do right away because flavored tobacco is a terrible thing for kids,” said Alison Shanklin of Elk Horn. 

Those in favor of the ban say it will help keep those products out of the hands of kids and teenagers.

But the owner of Mike’s Smoke Shop in Castroville said the ban would hurt his business. The owner said his customers come from as far as Santa Cruz.

He told KION that he has thousands of dollars of products in his shop and he wouldn’t know what to do with it once the ban goes into effect. 

But some say the ban won't keep flavored tobacco out of the hands of kids or teens.

“I think that the demand is already so high,” said Andrew Meyers of Castroville. “In order for it to be more regulated, it would have to happen when it first made its introduction. But unfortunately, that didn't happen and we're in the situation we're in now.”

The county said this ban would support the Health Department's initiative to enhance public health and safety through prevention.

Back in 2021, Monterey County Supervisors adopted an ordinance that established licensing requirements for tobacco shops.