A concern frequently voiced by tobacco control advocates is that existing tobacco control laws are not properly enforced. The best way to increase enforcement of tobacco laws is to eliminate barriers that may be impeding active local enforcement; but without an overall sense of how enforcement is designed to occur, ways around the barriers may be difficult to find.

Although the state of California requires a license to sell tobacco products, the state licensing law is not designed to address public health concerns, such as youth access to tobacco products. Communities across California have attempted to fill the void by adopting local tobacco retailer licensing ordinances.

Do you want to help limit smoking in housing geared toward low-income residents? This fact sheet explains how to work with key players to establish smokefree policies for this type of housing in your community. It also provides resources to help you make contacts and engage with them about the need for smokefree policies in affordable housing.

An emerging network of tobacco control attorneys from throughout the United States has compiled this unique guide, Legal Resources for Tobacco Control, for use by the tobacco control community. Our hope is that the guide supports your advocacy efforts by providing the legal analyses and defenses you will need to succeed. These resources are not presented as a substitute for community organizing efforts. Legal tools are most powerful when they support, not replace, a broad based community effort.