To the Editor:

I am saddened by Proposition 31. I believe that we should most definitely follow through with Prop 31 as it could cause irreparable damage to our youth just like me.   

Cigarette companies are trying to lure in a younger generation/audience to have them get addicted to nicotine and be lifelong customers so they can make some money. Cigarette companies are becoming more and more “evil” as they are advertising flavored tobacco products everywhere. They may say that this advertising is for adults but who would be more interested in a blueberry flavor — a 28- to 50-year-old man or a teenager?

We need to uphold this ban as this could help start many teens to start smoking and get addicted to nicotine. Upholding this ban could save many teens from getting a nicotine addiction and ruining their life. In a study it was found that 85% of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products. Then in a study from 2019 it was found that an estimated 4.31 million middle and high school students in the U.S. used a flavored tobacco product in the past 30 days. We need to uphold the ban on flavored tobacco products otherwise many more teens will get addicted.

— Ivan Martinez