On Wednesday Nov. 5, the Tiburon Town Council unanimously decided to ban all nicotine products in an attempt to decrease vape rates among teens. This was a finalization to the preliminary vote on Oct. 15.

Prior to the ban, which will go into effect in 30 days, there were no stores in Tiburon selling nicotine products. This measure serves as a proactive step to prevent future sales.

Tiburon Council member and Redwood parent Isaac Nikfar voted in favor of the ban.

“It’s important for us to send the right message and ensure that there are the right protections and safety for the youth in Tiburon,” Nikfar said. “It’s formalizing in a lot of ways what was already here.”

Nikfar said the ban was motivated by the local medical community as a result of many local parties hosted by Tiburon residents.

According to the County of Marin, the number of eleventh graders who reported vaping regularly has jumped from 11 percent to 28 percent in the past two years.

Mill Valley pediatrician Dr. Patrick Newman is one of many health professionals that support the council’s decision to ban nicotine.

“I hate [nicotine] because it’s one of the easiest [drugs] to get a hold of,” Newman said. “Unfortunately, it’s also widely regarded as the most addictive drug known to man, allowing kids to get hooked without even knowing.”

While Tobacco Use Prevention and Education program (TUPE) member Eden Davis, is in favor of the ban, she also questions its effectiveness.

“I’m not sure how much it’s going to impact Redwood students because I feel like most students get vapes from a [dealer],” Davis said.

However, Davis and the TUPE program still feel that the Tiburon tobacco ban is a step in the right direction.