California's Ban on Flavored Tobacco Upheld by Supreme Court

On Monday, the United States Supreme Court rejected tobacco companies' request to block a ban on flavored tobacco products in California. The ban received overwhelming support from voters in November.

RJ Reynolds and other tobacco companies are seeking intervention from the higher court to prevent the ban from taking effect before December 21st.

The judges did not make any further comments and did not voice any apparent objections.

The ban was initially approved by the state legislative body two years ago, but never went into effect after tobacco companies collected enough signatures to put it to a vote. However, almost two-thirds of voters now support the prohibition of all products from cotton candy-flavored e-cigarette juice to menthol cigarettes.

Supporters of the ban argue that the law is necessary to curb the alarming rise in smoking among teenagers.

On the day following the November 8th election, RJ Reynolds filed a federal lawsuit, however, a lower court refused to stay litigation during the proceedings.

Mint-flavored cigarettes make up approximately one-third of the California market, and these companies are urging the Supreme Court to prevent them from losing so much business in the largest state in the US.

They argued that the power to ban flavored products belongs to the Federal Food and Drug Administration.

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