California Penal Code Section 308.1

CA Penal Code § 308.1 (2017)  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person shall sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import any tobacco product commonly referred to as “bidis” or “beedies,” unless that tobacco product is sold, offered for sale, or intended to be sold in a business establishment that prohibits the presence of persons under 18 years of age on its premises.

(b) For purposes of this section, “bidis” or “beedies” means any of the following:

(1) A product containing tobacco that is wrapped in temburni leaf (diospyros melanoxylon) or tendu leaf (diospyros exculpra).

(2) A product that is marketed and sold as “bidis” or “beedies.”

(c) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is also subject to a civil action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, county counsel, or district attorney for an injunction and a civil penalty of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) per violation. This subdivision does not affect any other remedies available for a violation of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 265, Sec. 5. (AB 2496) Effective January 1, 2011.)

Last modified: October 25, 2018