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0 Cancer Action <br /> Network— <br /> American <br /> Cancer <br /> Apo society-A' <br /> February 28, 2022 <br /> The Honorable Vicente Sarmiento <br /> Mayor, City of Santa Ana <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza <br /> Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Re: Agenda Item 27. Ordinance Options Prohibiting the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products <br /> Dear Mayor Sarmiento and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, <br /> The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's mission is to end suffering and death from <br /> Cancer. All individuals should have equitable access to quality cancer care and equal opportunity <br /> to live a healthy life. Our ability to continue to make progress against cancer relies heavily on <br /> eliminating the inequities that exist in cancer prevention and care, including tobacco policies. <br /> We are deeply concerned about the availability of flavored tobacco products, and thank you for <br /> considering strong policies to protect the health of our youth. <br /> We are writing to urge you to vote tonight in support of an ordinance that end the sale of <br /> menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including but not limited to flavored <br /> cigars, e-cigarettes, shisha, and smokeless tobacco. Option 1a in the staff report is ideal; we urge <br /> you to act without delay. <br /> Eliminating the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, is a social <br /> justice issue. Tobacco companies have intentionally and aggressively marketed their menthol and <br /> flavored tobacco products to communities of color, lower- income, and LGBTQ communities. <br /> Disparities resulting from this intentional marketing include higher use of tobacco products in <br /> these same communities who already bear a greater burden of many health disparities. Ending <br /> the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes, removes much of the <br /> allure of these products and is a key component of a comprehensive strategy to effectively <br /> reduce tobacco initiation and subsequent addiction. <br /> Lynda Barbour, MPH,Sr. Director,Government Relations,American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network <br /> PO Box 910549;San Diego, CA 92191 <br /> W:619-624-1517 C:619-742-4861 lVnda.barbour@cancer.org <br /> www.FightCancer.org <br />