Artesia News

Artesia's new Tobacco Ordinance

Businesses selling tobacco must now obtain a Tobacco Retail Permit to do so.

The City of Artesia has a substantial interest in promoting compliance with federal, state, and local laws intended to regulate tobacco sales and discourage the illegal purchase of tobacco products by minors. It is the intent of this ordinance to encourage responsible tobacco retailing, discourage tobacco use among minors, and improve the long-term health of the community.

State law requires all tobacco retailers to be licensed by the Board of Equalization in order to curb the illegal sale and distribution of cigarettes which deprive the state yearly of hundreds of millions of tax dollars that fund local and state programs such as health services, antismoking campaigns, cancer research, and education programs.