Striving to Regulate E-Cigarette and Tobacco Shops in Ohio Town

Recently, according to reports from American media outlet News5Cleveland, the city of Brunswick in the state of Ohio is working to regulate the distribution of vape shops or tobacco specialty shops within the city limits. The city government had initially planned to require these shops to obtain a "tobacco retail license," but this plan has been temporarily put on hold.

Within a five-mile radius of Brunswick City, there are more than five e-cigarette and tobacco shops. For Deputy Mayor and City Council Chairman Nicholas Hanek, the number of these stores is excessive and their distribution is too dense. "We have never seen so many e-cigarette shops popping up everywhere, it's truly unbelievable," Hanek said.

Hanek is concerned that these stores may be illegally selling products to underage users, despite e-cigarette stores and tobacco products being legally sold. Starting in 2019, tobacco users in Ohio must be at least 21 years old. "We have an epidemic of underage smoking in Ohio," said Hanek.

In order to prevent the sale of tobacco to minors, the Brunswick City Council enacted an ordinance requiring e-cigarette stores to obtain a "tobacco retail license" through the health department of MacDenna County. However, the ordinance was quickly put on hold after state legislators overturned Governor DeWain's veto.

Due to legal uncertainties, the city of Brunswick is now turning to zoning planning methods. The new legislation will require new e-cigarette or tobacco stores to be located a certain distance away from schools, churches, and playgrounds. These stores also cannot be opened within 1000 feet of existing stores.