Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed legislation on Thursday that would have prevented Ohio cities from strengthening their laws against e-cigarettes and tobacco.
During a press conference on Thursday morning, DeWine announced that he had vetoed the bill, stating that it was not in the best interest of the public.
Legislators in the Ohio State Assembly passed a bill after officials in Columbus voted to ban the sale of flavored and menthol tobacco products in the state's largest city beginning in 2024.
During a debate lasting almost 17 hours last month, lawmakers argued that allowing cities to establish tobacco regulations could lead to cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus banning anything deemed unhealthy.
According to reports, opponents argue that the proposed law in the state would serve as a broader "preemption" law, which would prevent cities from enacting local ordinances that exceed state laws by imposing new fees or taxes on tobacco products or raising the age to purchase tobacco.
DeWine stated that Ohio is currently experiencing an epidemic, with an increasing number of young people beginning to use e-cigarettes.
Advocates of the priority purchase law often cite the need for statewide legal consistency and a disdain for piecemeal rules across different cities in Ohio. However, DeWine argues that prioritizing the well-being of young people is more important than uniformity.
According to the CDC, as of September of last year, laws in 24 states have replaced local ordinances restricting the sale of tobacco products to young people. Both state and federal laws prohibit suppliers from selling tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.
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