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Assembly committee backs bill to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies
Summary
The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard testimony supporting AB 957, which would ban the retail sale of tobacco products in licensed pharmacies across California; the measure was moved and later passed out of committee to the Governmental Organization Committee.
Assemblymember Ortega presented AB 957 on behalf of the bill author, saying the measure would remove tobacco products from licensed pharmacies across California to align pharmacy practice with public health goals.
"Pharmacies are not just any other corner store or retailer. They hold a unique and trusted position within our healthcare system," Assemblymember Ortega said. "Selling tobacco products known to cause cancer, heart disease, and other serious illness directly contradicts the core mission and the pharmacy's oath to do no harm."
Tim Gibbs, representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a cosponsor, told the committee that tobacco remains "the leading cause of preventable disease and is fundamentally incompatible with the pharmacy profession's role to promote health." He cited studies showing point-of-sale marketing at pharmacies increases youth tobacco initiation and said cigarette pricing in some pharmacies can be lower than other retail outlets.
Supporters included the California Pharmacists Association and independent pharmacists who said selling tobacco products undermines patient trust and the pharmacies' health mission. Sonia Frosto, a pharmacist and owner of 10 Acres Pharmacy in Sacramento, said selling tobacco is "counterintuitive" for a healthcare provider and that removing tobacco would align pharmacies with their role in patient care.
No primary witnesses registered in opposition at the hearing. Committee members asked few technical questions during the presentation; implementation and enforcement by the Board of Pharmacy were noted as areas for later clarification.
The committee established a quorum later in the hearing and the motion on AB 957 was recorded as passed out of the committee to the Governmental Organization Committee.
