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

Lawmakers Clash as Mexico Moves to Criminalize Sale and Promotion of Vapes

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies Health Commission has approved a bill establishing a total ban on vapes and e-cigarettes, with penalties ranging from one to eight years in prison and fines between Mex$11,000 and Mex$226,000 (USD ≈$600–$12,300). The proposal sparked controversy among opposition lawmakers, who argued that the legislation criminalizes users rather than focusing on regulation and prevention.

Nov.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai

NYS Youth Tobacco Use Down 29% Since 2022, Lowest Since 2000

According to the New York State Department of Health’s latest StatShot (Vol.17, #2025-1), high school tobacco product use in 2024 fell to 17.0%, the lowest rate since 2000, marking a 29% decline from 2022. E-cigarette use decreased from 18.7% to 13.1%, while cigarette use remained low at 2.4%.However, nicotine pouch use increased from 1.5% to 3.0%.

Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Leather Wrap + Mini Display: DOJO’s New Product Launches in the U.S., Priced Around $15

DOJO lists Sphere S 40K in the U.S.: semi-transparent leather wrap, mini status display; 20 mL/40,000 puffs/1000 mAh, ECO/SMART; $14.99; some pages “Coming Soon.”

Oct.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai

PMI Urges South Africa to Differentiate Smoke-Free Products from Cigarettes

South Africa is drafting new tobacco legislation aimed at reducing smoking-related deaths and promoting harm reduction.PMI said smoke-free products such as nicotine pouches and heated devices could play a critical role in reducing harm. Patrik Hildingsson, PMI’s director for oral products communications, said South Africa is developing a new regulatory framework to recognise and regulate smoke-free products, calling it a “big change” for the industry.