Health Council urges board to consider full ban on tobacco sales and readies primary‑care access report

Roberta Anthes, chair of the Health Council of Marin, used the meeting’s general public comment period to preview a report on primary care access that the council expects to deliver in September or October and to press the board to consider a countywide end to retail sales of tobacco and nicotine products in unincorporated areas.

Anthes said the Health Council’s analysis — developed with data from county Health and Human Services staff and community partners — found a sharp disparity in smoking prevalence: roughly 6% in more affluent areas versus 18% in less affluent parts of Marin. That gap and rising smoking rates among local youth led the council to vote unanimously to recommend the county consider a broader retail ban beyond actions already taken to restrict electronic nicotine systems.

Anthes asked staff to accept the council’s submitted letter into the public record and to agendize the subject for future discussion. The board did not take immediate action on the suggestion during the meeting.

UCSF tobacco‑control specialist Dr. Jeremiah Monk (self‑identified) told the board he believes the county has a moral responsibility to end sales of deadly products and pointed to increases in youth smoking in specific school districts; he urged policymakers to consider stronger local retail restrictions.

The Health Council said it will provide the full primary‑care access report to the board when completed and requested the board consider future agenda time to discuss the tobacco sales recommendation.