Sonoma city officials are proposing an ordinance aimed at curbing the sale of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to minors within city limits.
"We need to make sure that young kids aren’t attracted to smoking and curb nicotine addiction at a young age for health reasons," Sonoma Mayor David Cook said at a meeting Monday night.
Councilwoman Rachel Hundley said that e-cigarettes "are pervasive in high schools," the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. "I hear it from parents all the time."
The proposed measure will prohibit new businesses from selling tobacco products and require existing business to obtain a license with the city.
A trade group for e-cigarette makers called the American Vaping Association says their products are a safer way to help smokers quit.