Last month, the National City City Council took action to better enforce their tobacco sales laws. After months of advocacy efforts by Sweetwater Union High School District students and community members asking for help in addressing vaping on school campuses, the council approved the adoption of a Tobacco Retial License program, or TRL.

Once implemented, the TRL will provide local oversight for the city’s 50+ stores that sell tobacco. Strong TRLs, such as the policy adopted by National City, have been proven to reduce youth access to vapes and other tobacco products, like little cigars and nicotine pouches.

Chula Vista has a TRL program in place, however National City’s action has given residents reason to examine their city’s program and ways to strengthen it.

A 2021 survey of Sweetwa

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