The city of Hallowell seeks to become the latest community in Maine to ban the sale of flavored vaping and other tobacco products.
Monday night, the city held a public hearing on an ordinance that would do exactly that. During the meeting, 300 signatures supporting the flavored tobacco ban were delivered to the council, according to local media.
During the hearing, people argued both for and against the ban, with those against saying the city should be looking at the bigger picture and consider enacting a smoking ban citywide. Those in favor cited not only the negative health effects, but also that it’s intentionally marketed to young people.
If Hallowell does pass a ban, they will join the towns Falmouth, Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Bangor and Bar Harbor in passing similar bans on selling flavored tobacco products.