Ohio Court Allows Cities to Enforce Ban on Flavored Tobacco

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai

May.20.2024

Ohio Court Allows Cities to Enforce Ban on Flavored Tobacco

Ohio Judge Rules Statewide Flavor Ban Unconstitutional, Allowing 21 Cities to Enforce Ban on Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products.

According to a report from Halfwheel on May 17th, there has been an update after 18 months regarding the ban on flavored tobacco products in Ohio. Judge Mark Serrott ruled that the recently passed statewide preemption law is unconstitutional, allowing for the enforcement of bans on the sale of flavored tobacco products in 21 cities involved in the lawsuit.

The controversy began in December 2022, when the city council of Columbus, Ohio, as the main plaintiff in the lawsuit, passed a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. In response, the Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature, during a special session focused on other issues, quickly passed a preemptive measure aimed at preventing cities from implementing stricter bans than state law.

In January 2023, Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, vetoed a bill that would have banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, citing his longstanding opposition to the measure. Due to technical issues, the state legislature was unable to override DeWine's veto.

Last year, the state legislature attempted to pass a preemptive clause once again and successfully overturned Governor DeWine's second veto. Subsequently, cities like Columbus began to sue, Judge Serothe issued a temporary injunction allowing Columbus's law to remain in effect and halting the implementation of the state law.

However, this issue remains unresolved. The state government has stated that it will appeal the ruling by Judge Serott to the Tenth Circuit Court. Cities not involved in this lawsuit are still bound by state law.

References:

[1] Ohio Judge Says Cities Can Ban Flavored Tobacco Products

Also Read:

[1] Ohio Judge Temporarily Blocks State Law Restricting Tobacco Sales

[2] Ohio Judge Issues Temporary Ban on State Tobacco Legislation

[3] Ohio City Lawsuit Challenges State Tobacco Sales Restrictions as Unconstitutional

#North America #United States #Traditional tobacco #Legislation #Flavored tobacco products

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

Indonesian Police to Crack Down on Etomidate-Laced Vapes

Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) will continue to take enforcement action against users and distributors of etomidate-laced vape liquids, even though the substance is not yet classified as a narcotic. Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crimes, said etomidate is an anaesthetic drug regulated under Health Law No. 17 of 2023, but has not been listed as a narcotic or psychotropic substance.

Oct.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Thailand to Establish Inter-Agency Committee to Strengthen E-Cigarette Enforcement

The Thai government will establish an inter-agency committee under the Prime Minister’s Office to address the rapid spread of e-cigarettes among youth. Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Sarum said the fragmented enforcement across multiple laws and agencies has created gaps. The new mechanism will coordinate enforcement, report directly to the Cabinet, and propose legal amendments if current laws are insufficient.

Nov.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Report: Smoking Rates Remain Unchanged Despite Kazakhstan’s Vape Ban

According to Exclusive.KZ, Kazakhstan’s Strategy Public Foundation released a study finding that strict tobacco and vape bans have not reduced smoking rates, which remain at 18–20%. The report calls for harm reduction approaches based on international best practices.

Nov.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Wales Passes Law Banning Tobacco Sales to Anyone Born After 2009

The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) has approved new legislation banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The law, passed on December 9, 2025, also imposes stricter controls on how vapes and nicotine products are advertised and sold. Designed by the UK Government but voted on separately in Wales, the bill passed with 36 votes in favor, two abstentions, and nine against. It grants stronger enforcement powers to Trading Standards to combat illegal tobacco and vape sales.