Fresno is receiving a major boost from the state to help combat illegal tobacco sales, which often happen at many of the city’s smoke shops.
The California Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program has awarded Fresno with a $1,446,426 grant to help enforce tobacco laws.
The big picture: Fresno will use the funding to clamp down on illegal retail tobacco sales and go after the marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products – including e-cigarettes – to minors.
- Funding will allow the city to have over 300 police and code enforcement inspections over the next three years. It will also provide for 15 decoy operations and 300 retailer education sessions.
Why it matters: The city found an alarming issue when conducting its random smoke shop inspections through the Department of Justice’s Cannabis Administrative Prosecutor Program.
- According to the city, large quantities of illegal tobacco have been observed and sold in 87% of shops that were inspected.
- Fresno also has 133 schools – accounting for 85.8% of the city’s total number of schools – that are located within 1,000 feet of a tobacco retailer.
The backstory: The Tobacco Grant Program was founded by the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, which was passed by voters as Proposition 56.
- The state makes annual grant funding available to cities and has distributed $184.7 million since 2017.
What they’re saying: “My message to these operators is this: you have been warned,” said City Attorney Andrew Janz at a Monday press conference. “Selling flavored tobacco disproportionately targets our youth and violates state law.”
- Janz said the city also plans to hold property owners accountable.
- “I also have a message for property owners who lease their space to illegal operators,” Janz said. “If you continue to allow your tenants to operate illegally, we will continue to issue you fines and place liens on your property.”
