Martin Feinberg, Realtor, was surprised to learn that in late October Culver City’s City Council approved an ordinance that will ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol within the Culver City Real Estate area.  For most retailers and carriers, the ban will not go into effect until May of 2020.  Others will have a longer reprieve before needed to worry about compliance.

The approved ban specifies that tobacco retailers, including grocery and convenience store owners as well as gas stations and other similar venues, will have until May 25, 2020, before the ban takes effect.  Retailers that qualify as tobacco stores are not required to stop selling flavored tobacco products until November 2020.

This grace period was designed to give store owners the opportunity to sell off their flavored tobacco product inventory if possible. The hookah lounge located in Culver City on Sepulveda Blvd is the one exemption from the ban and will be allowed to continue to sell flavored tobacco products for the foreseeable future.

Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells stated, “Tobacco and other types of smoking or vaping products remain a public health problem across our country – especially with children and diverse communities, who, for decades, seem to be targets of ‘Big Tobacco.  With flavors such as strawberry and vanilla and marketing resembling that of popular candy brands, our City Council recognizes that young people, in particular, are susceptible to the appeal and addictive qualities of flavored tobacco products.  By voting in favor of a citywide ban on flavored and menthol tobacco products, the City Council strives to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our youth.”

Local listing agent Martin Feinberg notes that those seeking more information on the sale of flavored/menthol tobacco products in Culver City, and the upcoming ban, should visit the City’s web page on this issue.  It can be found at www.culvercity.org/flavorban.