Students Urge Novato To Tighten Tobacco Rules, Citing Rising Teen Use

NOVATO, CA — High school students from Marin’s Youth Advocacy Committee urged the Novato City Council to toughen local tobacco regulations after presenting data showing youth nicotine use in Novato outpacing statewide averages at the early March meeting.

The students cited California Healthy Kids Survey results indicating youth lifetime tobacco and vaping rates in Novato have risen and now exceed state figures.

They asked the council to update Novato’s tobacco retail license to increase minimum prices, require larger pack sizes, prohibit discounts and coupons, and end sales of e‑cigarettes, vapes and nicotine pouches. They pointed to similar actions in Fairfax, the Marin County Board of Supervisors, Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach.

Councilmember Pat Eklund questioned whether the youth and county partners would assist with outreach if Novato moved toward prohibiting tobacco sales.

“It’s going to take a lot of outreach to all the residents in the city and also the youth as well,” Eklund said.

Mayor Rachel Farac said she wanted to know exactly why Novato’s rates are higher than California’s average and asked staff for more detail on youth access and local retail conditions. Students and county staff cited ease of access through older buyers, fake IDs and a higher concentration of retail outlets in Novato.

"Personally, this is something that’s important to me as a mother with young children, and I appreciate what they are doing for future kids,” Farac said.

The council did not take action on tobacco policy at this session.