The city council hereby finds and declares as follows:
A. Whereas, smoking is the greatest preventable cause of death in our nation, killing more than 390,000 Americans each year; and
B. Whereas, California State Penal Code Sections 308(a) and 308(b) prohibit the purchase and possession of tobacco products and paraphernalia by minors; and
C. Whereas, over 29 million packs of cigarettes are illegally sold to California minors annually; and
D. Whereas, nearly ninety percent of all tobacco users start well before the age of 18; and
E. Whereas, shoplifting of cigarettes from tobacco self-displays is one means by which minors access tobacco products; and
F. Therefore, the city council finds it in the public interest to promote the welfare of Gridley residents under the 18 years of age by further restricting youth access to tobacco products with the prohibition of tobacco self-displays in our community.
(Ord. 730, 2004).