The tobacco industry is using the same old arguments against San Francisco law ending the sale of flavored tobacco products

I have previously commented on the fact that RJ Reynolds Tobacco’s $3.5 million (so far) campaign to try and repeal San Francisco’s path-breaking new law ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products is a replay of Big Tobacco’s unsuccessful effort to overturn the San Francisco workplace smoking ordinance in 1983.

Now, the tobacco companies are reaching back even further, to their unsuccessful campaign in 1988 to block Proposition 99, California’s landmark tobacco control education and research program.  Back then they argued that if the voters increased cigarette taxes there would be a huge increase in crime.  Check out their 1988 ads here.  (Note that you have to wait for 30 seconds for the color bars to end.)

Then compare them to RJR’s 2018 ads seeking to overturn San Francisco’s flavor ban here.

With all that money, you would think that the tobacco companies could come up with a new idea.

If people want to support the law, vote Yes on Proposition E this June.  If you want to overturn it, vote No.