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die at higher rates than other groups from tobacco-related diseases such as cancer, heart <br />disease, and stroke. Lung cancer kills more African Americans than any other type of cancer. <br />In Santa Ana, we know that flavors, including menthol, are hooking youth on tobacco. <br />Legislation was recently enacted to prevent online sales to those under 21, but that is just one <br />piece of the puzzle as online sales represent only a fraction of the ways flavored tobacco <br />products reach youth. The vast majority of underage e-cigarette users in California obtain the <br />products from social sources, such as their friends. Ending the sale of these products is the best <br />way to protect youth and people of color from the predatory practices of Big Tobacco. <br />The dangers of smoking are well documented. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, <br />lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes <br />emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In addition, there is growing evidence that vaping can also <br />harm lung health. More than 100 local jurisdictions have taken action to end the sale of <br />flavored tobacco and protect future generations from getting hooked on this dangerous habit. <br />These include the cities of Buena Park, Stanton, Delano, Adelanto and San Francisco as well as <br />Los Angeles County, to name a few. <br />While SB 793 was recently enacted to end the sale of most flavored tobacco products, tobacco <br />companies spent more than $20 million to place the law on hold until the next statewide <br />general election. Santa Ana kids can't wait an entire year to be protected - local action is <br />needed to protect the community right now and address the urgent issue of youth tobacco use. <br />Every day we delay protecting youth and communities of color is a day that Big Tobacco has the <br />opportunity to use fruit and candy-flavored tobacco to addict more life-long customers. <br />A strong Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) program will provide enforcement for a flavored <br />tobacco sales restriction policy and is a proven way to prevent and limit youth tobacco use. We <br />recommend the city strengthen the existing TRL program by requiring annual compliance <br />checks on all tobacco retailers and restricting the density of tobacco retail locations. In <br />California, youth and young adults living in places with strong retail licensing policies are less <br />likely to use cigarettes and e-cigarettes than their counterparts who live in places with poor <br />retail licensure policies. <br />For these reasons, we are proud to support a comprehensive policy that ends the sale of all <br />flavored tobacco products without exemption. <br />Sincerely, <br />African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council <br />America On Track <br />American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network <br />American Heart Association <br />American Lung Association <br />Americans for Nonsmokers's Rights