Corte Madera council introduces county-aligned ordinance to set minimum tobacco prices and ban nicotine pouches

Corte Madera—The Town Council unanimously voted March 17 to introduce an ordinance (proposed chapter 5.07) that would establish minimum package sizes and floor prices for a range of tobacco products, ban the redemption of coupons and discounts, and prohibit the sale of electronic smoking devices and nicotine pouches. Mayor Thomas called the public hearing and Rebecca Vaughn, assistant town manager, summarized the revised, county-aligned draft before the council.

"The revised ordinance before you . . . moves pouches from being price regulated to being sale prohibited," Rebecca Vaughn told the council, explaining the draft follows the county model and clarifies enforcement roles. Vaughn recommended keeping an enforceable date of Sept. 1, 2026, to allow time for bilingual outreach and retailer training delivered by Marin County staff.

Public health and youth advocates urged the council to go further. John Ma, former president of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society, said the medical community applauded the town’s effort and encouraged work toward an end to commercial tobacco sales. Jeremiah Mach, a resident who had earlier raised unrelated tree-safety concerns, told the council he had compiled regional survey data showing sharply higher youth vaping in some local schools and urged a total ban "because these products are dangerous and deadly."

Retail representatives and small business owners urged caution. "These products are found online," Monty, a Corte Madera retailer speaking by video, said. Jaime Rojas of the National Association Tobacco Outlets noted local retailers’ high compliance rates in age-verification checks and warned that local bans and pricing mandates can shift purchases to neighboring jurisdictions and harm small businesses.

Rebecca Vaughn said the draft ordinance preserves the county's three-part structure: (1) minimum package sizes and floor pricing for cigarettes, little cigars, cigars and smokeless tobacco; (2) a prohibition on coupons and promotional pricing; and (3) operational rules such as prominent price display and compliance with federal packaging requirements. She added the draft also bans electronic smoking devices and heated systems and now explicitly prohibits nicotine pouches.

Vaughn told the council that the county's Health and Human Services will provide retail training and compliance checks and that the county-assigned enforcement framework should mean little or no direct monitoring cost to the town. "County Health and Human Services provides the retail training . . . and compliance checks would be handled through the county program under the sheriff's ordinance framework with no cost to the town anticipated for compliance monitoring," she said.

After public comment and council discussion about timing and next steps, Council member Beckman moved to introduce the ordinance as written and to reaffirm prior direction for staff to pursue a public engagement process toward a possible end-of-sales policy. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes: Council member Andrews; Council member Beckman; Council member Ravasio; Vice mayor Casiza; and Mayor Thomas.

Council members and staff agreed the introduction does not prevent the town from later considering a more stringent sales ban. Vice mayor Casiza asked staff to return with feasibility information on a full ban. Town Manager Adam Wolf and assistant town manager Rebecca Vaughn said staff had already begun researching precedent ordinances and outreach approaches and would return with options for council consideration.

What's next: Introducing the ordinance sends the county-aligned draft forward in the town's ordinance process; staff said adoption would be scheduled at a subsequent meeting and—if adopted as introduced—would have an enforceable date in line with the county's program on Sept. 1, 2026, while staff continues to scope options for a full sales ban.