Tag: Columbus Ohio

  • Ohio Governor Expected to Veto ‘No Flavor Bans’ Bill

    Ohio Governor Expected to Veto ‘No Flavor Bans’ Bill

    Credit: Andy Dean

    It doesn’t look good. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appears primed to veto a bill just passed by the state legislature that would prohibit cities like Columbus from regulating vaping and other tobacco products.

    DeWine told ABC 6 On Your Side he supports the Columbus ordinance passed Monday banning the sale of flavored vaping and other tobacco products.

    “Making a decision not to have flavored cigarettes is a logical decision that will save many, many lives and will save taxpayers a lot of money,” the governor said. “Smoking costs the citizens of Ohio hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars every single year.”

    The day after the Columbus tobacco ban passed, Republicans who control the legislature added a proposal to an unrelated bill mandating that only the state can regulate tobacco products in Ohio. The bill would wipe out attempts by local governments such as Columbus to rein in the use of tobacco products.

  • Columbus, Ohio Bans Flavored Vaping Products

    Columbus, Ohio Bans Flavored Vaping Products

    Credit: Spirit of America

    The Columbus City Council in the U.S. state of Ohio on Monday unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance that will ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products in the state’s most populated city.

    The ban is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, giving retailers just over a year to clear out existing inventory. The ban covers nearly all flavored tobacco and vaping products, including those with menthol, mint and wintergreen flavors. The ban does not apply to the sale of flavored shisha tobacco, however.

    While the ordinance makes it illegal to sell flavored tobacco products, it does not make it illegal to use such products. The legislation does not include criminal penalties on users, but does impose civil penalties on sellers.

    On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to stop California from enforcing its ban on the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

    Columbus is home to approximately 906,000 people.