If you were thinking of opening up a cigar shop in Sonoma, Calif. in the near future, the Sonoma City Council could very well alter those plans. At its next meeting on Monday, May 18, the council is scheduled to hold a discussion and possible first reading of a proposal that would prohibit any new retailers from selling tobacco products and would also require all current tobacco retailers in the city to gain an additional license to do business. According to the council’s meeting agenda packet, there are 15 tobacco retailers in the city. The fees from the license would go towards the enforcement of tobacco sales laws and undercover sting operations. Each license would have a $246 annual fee. In addition, tobacco product advertisements would be prohibited, and the sale of cheap, flavored tobacco products would have new restrictions placed on them. Sonoma has a population of approximately 11,000 people and is located 45 miles north of San Francisco.
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