Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Anaheim moves to regulate smoke shops, limit hours and require tobacco retail permits amid crime concerns
Summary
City staff and police told council they found illegal drug sales, weapons and gambling linked to some smoke shops. Council introduced an ordinance to require tobacco retail permits with distance and hours rules and penalties for violations.
The Anaheim City Council introduced an ordinance May 14 to create a tobacco retail regulatory permit, require distance separations from schools and parks, set operating hours and allow permit suspension or revocation for noncompliance.
Planning staff and Anaheim Police Department investigators told the council that a subset of smoke shops were connected to illegal activities ranging from narcotics sales to unlawful gambling. Sergeant Chris Cooper said investigators found criminal actors exploiting a gap in regulation and that a new permit and operating rules would give police and planning staff tools to address problem locations.
Under the proposal, retailers whose…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
