Print ArticleSAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he has signed legislation banning the sale of tobacco in pharmacies.
"Pharmacies should be places where people go to get better, not where people go to get cancer," said Mayor Newsom. "This law is by no means a panacea, but if it stops one person from smoking, then it is worth the effort."
Specifically, the ordinance does two things:
1. It allows the Director of Public Health to impose administrative penalties and or suspend a permit to sell tobacco products should the permittee have been found in violation of any local, state or federal law applicable to tobacco products or tobacco sales.
2. It prohibits pharmacies from selling tobacco products and applies civil and criminal penalties.
The legislation applies to all tobacco products, not just cigarettes. Pharmacies located in general grocery stores and in "big box stores" are exempted from the ordinance. The California Pharmacists and Medical Association both support the legislation.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) annually "permits" retail stores to sell tobacco. The ordinance takes effect October 1, 2008 with the expiration of all permits to sell tobacco issued to pharmacies.
"Pharmacies should be places where people go to get better, not where people go to get cancer," said Mayor Newsom. "This law is by no means a panacea, but if it stops one person from smoking, then it is worth the effort."
Specifically, the ordinance does two things:
1. It allows the Director of Public Health to impose administrative penalties and or suspend a permit to sell tobacco products should the permittee have been found in violation of any local, state or federal law applicable to tobacco products or tobacco sales.
2. It prohibits pharmacies from selling tobacco products and applies civil and criminal penalties.
The legislation applies to all tobacco products, not just cigarettes. Pharmacies located in general grocery stores and in "big box stores" are exempted from the ordinance. The California Pharmacists and Medical Association both support the legislation.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) annually "permits" retail stores to sell tobacco. The ordinance takes effect October 1, 2008 with the expiration of all permits to sell tobacco issued to pharmacies.
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