Florida County Council Approves Measure Restricting E-Cigarette Shops Near Schools

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.25.2023
Florida County Council Approves Measure Restricting E-Cigarette Shops Near Schools
Hillsborough County Council in Florida has approved a measure barring e-cigarette shops near schools.

According to a report by Fox 13 News, the Hillsborough County Council in Florida took a step on Wednesday by approving a measure that prohibits e-cigarette-related stores from opening near schools.

 

According to reports from Florida, county council members in Hillsborough County took a step closer on Wednesday to approving a measure that would no longer allow e-cigarette-related shops to operate near schools.

 

A proposed regulation is seeking to impose a 180-day ban on commercial activities related to e-cigarettes within a 500-foot radius of schools, where at least 20% of the goods are associated with these products. "It is difficult to come up with a valid reason for wanting to establish an e-cigarette shop near a school," stated Michael Owen, a council member from Hillsborough County who introduced the ordinance.

 

According to county government data, there are approximately 200 such commercial activities within 500 feet of schools in Hillsborough County. This proposal will not affect the already operating shops or apply to convenience stores, but it will impact newly opening establishments.

 

I was taken aback to see so many shops near the school, as I expected far fewer. Unfortunately, dealing with the already established ones has proved difficult for us, as they opened prior to the revision of land development codes," said Owen.

 

The education authorities in Hillsborough County reported earlier this year that over 60% of high school students in the county have tried or are currently using e-cigarettes.

 

Members of parliament recently considered a similar plan, but had to postpone it due to the need to wait for state regulations to be rescinded. Now that it has happened, they are reevaluating this concept.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

PMTA Manufacturing Panel Sees Small Firms Warn “Unknown Is Death” as FDA Defends Review Boundaries
PMTA Manufacturing Panel Sees Small Firms Warn “Unknown Is Death” as FDA Defends Review Boundaries
During FDA’s Feb 10 PMTA roundtable (manufacturing controls panel), small ENDS manufacturers warned that uncertainty in manufacturing expectations creates existential financial risk. FDA officials reiterated review flexibility is constrained by statutory and scientific boundaries. The panel debated testing standards, documentation requirements, open-system responsibility, supply chain changes, and software updates—highlighting unresolved PMTA challenges for small manufacturers.
Feb.11
IQOS Partners with Mexico’s Zamna Festival; PMI Says Adult User Base Tops 140,000
IQOS Partners with Mexico’s Zamna Festival; PMI Says Adult User Base Tops 140,000
Philip Morris International (PMI) said IQOS, via its “IQOS Curious X” platform, has entered a global partnership with the Zamna music festival in Tulum, Mexico, with the collaboration making its on-site debut during Zamna 2026 and targeting adult nicotine users. PMI said IQOS has more than 34 million users worldwide, while the number of adult consumers in Mexico has surpassed 140,000.
Jan.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Juul, NJOY and Altria Clash Over Use of UCSF Public Documents in U.S. Patent Litigation
Juul, NJOY and Altria Clash Over Use of UCSF Public Documents in U.S. Patent Litigation
Juul Labs has asked a U.S. federal court to prevent NJOY and Altria from using documents stored in a public UCSF database in an ongoing patent lawsuit, arguing they are protected by attorney–client privilege. The defendants say the files have long been public and may contain evidence relevant to Juul’s patent conduct.
Dec.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Cambodian's Phnom Penh Military Police continue crackdown after 300,000-device raid
Cambodian's Phnom Penh Military Police continue crackdown after 300,000-device raid
Phnom Penh Military Police said they have continued cracking down on locations selling electronic devices used for smoking chemicals, following a major raid last week that confiscated 300,000 electronic smoking devices.
Jan.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Outlines 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry
2Firsts Outlines 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry
As regulation tightens and innovation matures, competition in the new tobacco industry is shifting. In its 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry report, 2Firsts examines how heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and vape products are moving beyond feature-driven upgrades toward system-level design, where experience management, compliance structure, and engineering capability increasingly shape long-term competition.
Jan.13 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Singapore detected 59 large-scale vape smuggling cases in 2025, seizing about 230,000 items
Singapore detected 59 large-scale vape smuggling cases in 2025, seizing about 230,000 items
Singapore’s Ministry of Health said on Feb. 3 that authorities detected 59 large-scale vape smuggling cases in 2025 and seized about 230,000 vapes and accessories. Over the past two years, more than 10,000 online vape sale advertisements were removed, with about 99% linked to overseas platform posts. Enforcement includes bot-driven surveillance, public tip-offs, and site-blocking with partner agencies.
Feb.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai