Maine Senate Votes to Move Flavor Ban to House

The Maine Senate on Wednesday advanced a ban on flavored tobacco products, sending the bill down to the House for a potential vote today, reports WGME.

The bill, which passed 18-16, if passed by the House, will ban the sale of flavors like mint, vanilla, fruits and menthol in vaping products.

The ban does not include menthol combustible cigarettes.

However, the bill will not penalize the use, purchase or possession of flavored products, only the sale by tobacco retailers.

The ban seeks to make statewide prohibitions that are already in place in Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Bangor and Bar Harbor have also voted for similar bans.

A similar statewide effort failed last year when lawmakers adjourned without taking up the bill.