Mayor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that bans the sale of tobacco in pharmacies and said The City is the first in the nation to take this step.

The measure amends the health code to prohibit tobacco sales in drug stores of all sizes. However, big-box retailers or grocery stores with pharmacies are exempt. Starting Oct. 1, a store that violates the ban is subject to administrative penalties by The City’s Department of Public Health. Businesses also can be criminally cited and face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000.

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