Ohio Judge Temporarily Blocks State Law Restricting Tobacco Sales

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Apr.22.2024
Ohio Judge Temporarily Blocks State Law Restricting Tobacco Sales
A judge in Franklin County, Ohio, issued a temporary restraining order on a state law banning tobacco sales in cities.

According to the American media "Internewscast" reported on April 24th, Columbus, Ohio is one of the 14 Ohio cities that filed a lawsuit against the tobacco law two weeks ago. On Friday (April 19th), a judge in Franklin County issued a temporary restraining order against the state law that prohibits cities from regulating the sale of tobacco products. The order prevents the law from taking effect before the scheduled preliminary injunction hearing on May 17th. The law was originally scheduled to go into effect on April 23rd after lawmakers overturned the governor's veto of the legislation earlier this year.

 

As a result, the city's tobacco regulations, including the licensing of local tobacco retailers and the ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products within the city, remain in effect. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein issued a statement praising the judge's decision and calling the regulation "unconstitutional."

 

Klein said, "I commend the court's decision to support the city, and I look forward to demonstrating to the public that this regulation is not only unconstitutional, but also a harmful policy that threatens public health and undermines our progress in restricting tobacco use, especially among youth smokers."

 

Columbus is not the only city involved in this case, as 14 cities including Bexley, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dublin, Galena, Grandview Heights, Heath, Hilliard, Oakwood, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Whitehall, and Worthington have joined together to file a lawsuit over the matter.

 

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

BAT Podcast with AACS CEO: Vape Policy Imbalance Fuels Australia’s Billion-Dollar Illicit Market
BAT Podcast with AACS CEO: Vape Policy Imbalance Fuels Australia’s Billion-Dollar Illicit Market
In BAT’s The Smokeless Word podcast, AACS CEO Theo Foukkare warned that high taxes and strict vape bans have fueled Australia’s AUD 10-billion illicit nicotine market and rising retail crime, urging urgent regulatory reform.
Oct.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Empower HHS to Destroy Counterfeit Chinese Tobacco Products
U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Empower HHS to Destroy Counterfeit Chinese Tobacco Products
Bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have introduced the “Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act” (END Act), seeking to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to directly destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit imported tobacco products.Major tobacco companies, including Altria, along with several public health organizations, have announced their support for the bill.
Nov.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia Collected US$50.07 million in Vape Tax Since April 2023
Malaysia Collected US$50.07 million in Vape Tax Since April 2023
Malaysia collected RM209.5 million(US$50.07 million) in excise duty on nicotine-containing vape liquids and gels from April 2023 to August 2025, according to Finance Ministry data. However, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said RM223.5 million was spent treating EVALI patients in the past year alone, exceeding the tax revenue.
Nov.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter
Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter
Australian Border Force (ABF), 586 million cigarettes and over 3 million vapes were seized at Australia’s international border in the first quarter of the 2024–25 financial year (July 1–September 30), marking a continued upward trend over the past two years. Enhanced intelligence and data-sharing have enabled ABF to target suspicious consignments more effectively across all entry points.
Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Belarus to Tighten Vape Regulations, Raise Excise Taxes in 2026
Belarus to Tighten Vape Regulations, Raise Excise Taxes in 2026
Belarusian lawmakers are drafting a new bill to regulate the vape market amid growing concern over youth nicotine use and the spread of illegal products. While a total ban is not planned, the focus will be on stricter licensing, advertising limits, and higher taxes.
Nov.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mexico Passes Law Banning Commercial Sale and Advertising of Vapes and E-Cigarettes
Mexico Passes Law Banning Commercial Sale and Advertising of Vapes and E-Cigarettes
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional reform prohibiting the production, import, export, transport, distribution, sale, and advertising of vapes and e-cigarettes nationwide. The law does not ban personal use of such products. Backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, the amendment to the General Health Law imposes penalties of one to eight years in prison and fines between 11,314 and 226,280 pesos (approximately USD 621–12,430).
Dec.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai