San Anselmo Council Backs Tobacco Ban, Spares Existing Premium Cigar Sellers

San Anselmo is moving toward ending most tobacco and nicotine sales. After more than two hours of public comment on Oct. 13, 2026, three Town Council members agreed on a ban that exempts premium cigars sold by businesses already operating in town. The direction is not a final vote. Staff will bring a draft ordinance on Oct. 27, which leaves time for both sides to keep organizing.

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• Three of four members present back Option 3, a ban with a premium cigar carve-out.
• Carve-out limited to existing businesses, using the state definition of premium cigars.
• Phase-out of at least nine months favored, leaving room for a possible referendum.
• Ludwig's owners deliver almost 300 signatures seeking a premium cigar exemption.
• Trade groups and national health advocates clash over youth access and enforcement.
• Residents thank council for organizing a vigil after antisemitic graffiti at Brookside Elementary.

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Council Majority Picks Ban With Cigar Carve-Out

Why it matters: San Anselmo appears set to join Tiburon, Ross, Corte Madera and Mill Valley, which already ban tobacco sales. Vapes, nicotine pouches and cigarettes would come off local shelves. The town's longtime premium cigar seller would keep its core business.

The basics: This was an informational item seeking direction, so there was no ordinance and no formal vote. It followed a June 23 discussion that ended without consensus. Town staff member Linda presented four options:

• Option 1: Marin County's model ordinance
• Option 2: A full ban
• Option 3: A ban with a cigar exception
• Option 4: No action

The county model was adopted Nov. 18, 2025, and Fairfax and Sausalito have since followed it. It sets a $12-per-pack floor price for cigarettes, bars discounts, requires price displays and prohibits e-cigarettes, heated products and nicotine pouches. "Minimum prices would increase by $1 every 2 years after the effective date unless the council adopts a different adjustment by ordinance or resolution," Linda said.

When a councilmember asked what the model would ban, staff confirmed it could cover products such as Juul and Zyn. Staff also pointed to Beverly Hills, which in 2021 exempted existing cigar lounges and gave them an 18-month phase-out.

Where things stand: Mayor Steve Burdo said Ludwig's told him its premium cigar sales come to about $60,000 a year, enough to potentially force the store to downsize. He also said students told him cigars are not the problem. "I support Option 3, which would be a ban with a carve-out, I would want to see a runway on the policy," Burdo said.

Vice Mayor Chantel Walker also backed Option 3. She asked that licenses stay with current owners rather than transfer with a business address.

Councilmember Tarrell Kullaway supported Option 3 and narrowed it further. "I would like the carve-out to be not for permitted businesses, but for permitted and already in operation businesses as of today's conversation," she said. She also stressed that "addiction is not a choice."

The other side: Councilmember Yoav Schlesinger said the real problem is youth access and called a full ban disproportionate. "Ludwig's should be able to continue selling premium cigars, full stop," he said. He added: "I lean toward, frankly, the county's model ordinance over a full ban with the premium cigar carve-out." Later, he acknowledged the count: "I'm outnumbered here, so I'm just going to try to be as constructive as I can."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council reached consensus without a vote. Three members favored Option 3, one favored Option 1, and one colleague was absent. Staff's direction:

• Exempt premium cigars sold by businesses already operating, using the state law definition
• Keep the exemption for cessation products
• Set a phase-out of at least nine months after adoption (staff had offered six, nine or 12 months)

The carve-out protects Ludwig's but blocks new cigar sellers from entering the market. Other tobacco retailers would lose their nicotine product lines. Burdo said the longer runway would allow time for a referendum.

What's next: The ordinance returns Oct. 27. Burdo noted that the absent colleague may weigh in then.

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Organized Camps Fill Public Comment

Why it matters: National trade associations, national anti-tobacco groups, local students and a family business all lobbied the same five-member council. The final direction gave each side part of what it asked for.

Where things stand: Ludwig's, in business nearly 50 years, made the most targeted request.

• Majid Nazari, family owner/operator of Ludwig's, said the store sells only premium handmade cigars, priced from $12 to $100. "In fact, 15 years ago, we voluntarily stopped selling all tobacco products, except premium handmade cigars," he said.
• Barbara Nazari of Ludwig's criticized outside lobbying. She noted the family has survived floods and a pandemic. "We have almost 300 signatures from your constituents that agree with us," she said.

Retail interests argued that any ban was too much:

• Haley Hodges, legislative consultant for the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, said the group opposes "policies that unnecessarily restrict responsible tobacco retailers and limit lawful adult consumers' access to legal products."
• "Of the 4 options in front of you tonight, we support the 4th," said Taylor Hassell, executive director of the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association.
• "A ban on a product that is legally sold to adults is not a common-sense solution," said Nico Chigos, reading a statement for Phil Chigos.
• Derek, owner of Marin Outdoor Trading Company, said buyers would simply shop in other towns or online.
• Mary Domenico and Todd urged the council to put the issue to voters. Todd also suggested deferring a decision.
• Benedetto and Frank asked for evidence that local merchants sell to minors.
• McKinley Bruckner said he quit smoking with an e-cigarette and called the policy cruel to the working class.

The other side: Health advocates pressed for a ban with no exemptions.

• "I strongly urge the council to adopt a comprehensive ordinance to end tobacco use," said Liz Couch, associate adjunct professor and policy analyst at UCSF. She cited research linking retail availability to youth use.
• "We urge San Anselmo to explore a complete end-of-sales policy with no exemptions," said Megan Manning of Action on Smoking and Health.
• Kelsey Fernandez noted that more than 85% of local voters upheld the state's flavored tobacco ban in 2022.
• Jonathan Hirsch, a substance-use prevention educator, said about 70% of students call vapes easy to get. He added that use rates at Archie Williams High School have not fallen.
• Natalia, who began using nicotine at 14, said: "Retail clerks often were not asking for identification, making it easy for someone my age to access products that are known to be highly addictive."
• Pam Granger, co-chair of Smoke-Free Marin, said cigars are not safer.
• Bridget Clark described her father's death from cancer after cigar use.
• Bob Curry and Jeremiah also opposed a cigar exemption.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Health advocates won on vapes, pouches and cigarettes. Ludwig's won its exemption. No council member backed the trade groups' preferred no-action option. The council did not adopt calls for a public vote, though the phase-out leaves a referendum possible.

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Brookside Graffiti Draws Community Response

Speakers opened the meeting by thanking Mayor Steve Burdo and Councilmember Yoav Schlesinger for organizing a gathering at Brookside Elementary. Roughly 250 to 300 people attended after antisemitic graffiti was found at the school.

Gary said the community plans a large Hanukkah feast. Catherine Ellison asked whether the parents of the children responsible could be drawn into dialogue or reconciliation.

Burdo, whose child attends Brookside, thanked the Ross Valley School District, school staff, Chabad Marin's Rabbi Berkowitz and Father Wankar. "I think it's important that we put actions behind words," he said. A councilmember credited the district and the Central Marin Police Authority and said those responsible had been identified.

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Minor Items

• Consent items 1.1 and 1.2 were approved by voice vote with no opposition (For: 4, Against: 0, Absent: 1).
• Item 1.3 was pulled to praise the renovated library and the Friends of the Library's fundraising, then approved unanimously (For: 4, Against: 0, Absent: 1).
• El Niño prep: Officials urged residents to sign up for Alert Marin and attend the Oct. 19 regional town hall at College of Marin. Staff are also checking floodgates with flood-zone businesses.
• Fire Station 20 holds its ribbon cutting Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. on Butterfield Road.
• The meeting adjourned in memory of Joseph Burke, father of Councilmember Eileen Burke.

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Looking Ahead

The tobacco ordinance returns Oct. 27. Key details to watch include the phase-out length, the license-transfer language and the premium cigar definition. The Town Manager's Business Forum is also scheduled for Oct. 27.