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Stockton council advances revised tobacco retail rules; smoking‑lounge language sent back for more review
Summary
Staff proposed an urgent rewrite of Stockton's tobacco retail licensing to tighten inspections, add retailer classes and increase penalties; public health groups urged keeping a 1,000‑foot buffer and banning flavored tobacco and smoking lounges. Council accepted minor edits and voted 6‑0 to return lounge language to committee for more work.
Stockton City Council on Feb. 17 heard a staff presentation on an urgency ordinance to amend Stockton Municipal Code Chapter 5.104 that would tighten the city’s tobacco retail licensing (TRL) rules, add four retailer categories and strengthen enforcement tools.
The proposed changes would require all retailers to apply for a TRL and submit detailed floor plans showing where tobacco would be sold or stored, require smoke‑shop applicants to file an annual security plan and allow police unannounced inspections. The draft also creates explicit penalties and a graduated suspension structure—30 days for a first qualifying violation, 60 for a second and revocation on a third, staff said.
“Sales to minors, selling…
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