Grover Beach Police receive $137,661 of state funding to prevent tobacco use among minors
GROVER BEACH, Calif. - During a City Council meeting Monday evening, Grover Beach City Council approved the acceptance of $137,661 from state funding as part of the California Department of Justice’s Tobacco Grant Program.
The grants were awarded to 76 local entities throughout the state to support the enforcement of state and local laws related to the illegal sales and marketing of tobacco products to minors.
“Tobacco is a serious threat to public health, especially to California’s youth,” said Attorney General Becerra. “These grants will support local communities in enforcing the law and educating kids about the harms of tobacco products. My office is dedicated to ensuring the state has the resources necessary to curb the dangers of tobacco and protect the public’s well-being. Preventing or reducing illegal sales of tobacco to minors will pave the way to a healthier California—we’re committed to tackling this public health crisis head on.”
The Grover Beach Police Department plans to use the funds over the next three years to conduct multiple educational lessons in local schools through the police department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, conduct tobacco use enforcement operations in and around City parks and educate and conduct enforcement operations with the local tobacco licensed establishments.
Police said these programs and operations will help ensure minors are not using or possessing tobacco products and that stores that sell tobacco are complying with state and local laws.
The California Department of Justice's Tobacco Grant Program is funded by Prop. 56, also known as the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016.
Prop. 56 raised the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack from April 2017 onward. The proposition also gives the Department of Justice millions of dollars each year to give to local law enforcement agencies to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors.
