Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

They carry small fines, and yes, every arrest, ticket and conviction 'goes into' your record, forever.

You wouldn't get a ticket for "tobacco possession" unless you're under 18, so, no, such an offense wouldn't become part of your formal criminal record and would not result in your not being hired for a job, or in an increased penalty for any future criminal behavior. As Mr. Nelson pointed out, everything goes into some record, somewhere, so if your aspiration is to become an FBI agent your goose is probably cooked.