Bill > AB957

This bill prohibits pharmacies from selling cigarettes and tobacco products in California. Specifically, the legislation amends existing licensing regulations to prevent pharmacies, which are regulated by the California State Board of Pharmacy, from engaging in the retail sale of tobacco items. The bill adds a new provision that makes it unlawful for any pharmacy to sell cigarettes or tobacco products, and it modifies the licensing requirements of the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2023 to ensure that the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration cannot issue a license to a retailer if the location is a pharmacy or contains a pharmacy. Violations of these new provisions would be considered a crime, which classifies this as a state-mandated local program. The bill does not require additional state reimbursement for local agencies because the changes primarily relate to creating or modifying criminal penalties. By preventing pharmacies from selling tobacco products, the legislation aims to reduce tobacco accessibility and potentially promote public health by separating tobacco sales from healthcare-related establishments.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB957