Tag: Ohio

Governor to Veto ‘No Flavor Bans’ Bill

Image: Dmitry | Adobe Stock
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine appears primed to veto a bill just passed by the state legislature that would prohibit cities like Columbus from regulating vaping and other tobacco products.
DeWine told ABC 6 On Your Side he supports the Columbus ordinance passed Monday banning the sale of flavored vaping and other tobacco products.
“Making a decision not to have flavored cigarettes is a logical decision that will save many, many lives and will save taxpayers a lot of money,” DeWine said. “Smoking costs the citizens of Ohio hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars every single year.”
The day after the Columbus tobacco ban passed, Republicans who control the legislature added a proposal to an unrelated bill mandating that only the state can regulate tobacco products in Ohio. The bill would wipe out attempts by local governments, such as that in Columbus, to rein in the use of tobacco products.
December 19, 2022
Ohio Passes Ban on Cities’ Flavor Bans

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The Columbus City Council in the U.S. state of Ohio voted unanimously in favor of banning the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products within city limits on Monday, Dec. 12. On Wednesday, the Ohio Senate approved a bill that would make what the Columbus City Council did illegal.
The Ohio Senate passed H.B. 513 by a vote of 23-8. It includes an amendment that will prohibit local governments in Ohio from enacting any laws regarding tobacco or vaping products that are stricter than state law, a mechanism known as preemption, according to Halfwheel.
Because of this amendment, the bill now heads back to the Ohio House of Representatives, where it must be approved before heading to the desk of Governor Mike DeWine. Reports indicate that the House vote is expected this week.
If approved, the state law will effectively void the law passed by the Columbus City Council on Monday. The Columbus city law is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Preemption clauses have been a successful tool in blocking bans on the sales of flavored vaping products and other tobacco products. The city of Philadelphia lost a federal lawsuit that overturned its flavored tobacco ban due to Pennsylvania’s preemption clause.
December 15, 2022
Few complaints lead to secondhand smoke warnings for non-gamblers
About two, meaning usually one, complaints a month are lodged with the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department regarding tobacco smoke leaking from video gambling rooms inside restaurants, so obviously something needed to be done in this West Virginia, USA, town.
”When we get these types of complaints, we still make a site visit to make sure they are in compliance with the regulation and to see if we can advise them on making some corrections to limit the smoke coming into the general area,” Administrator Howard Gamble was quoted as saying in a story published in the The Intelligencer: Wheeling News-Register
There was no mention as to whether or not it was the same person complaining every month.
Eateries and bars with video gambling rooms are now required by the health department to post signs warning customers that smoking is permitted inside and that patrons may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
”This posting shall be conspicuously placed. This advisory shall include, but is not limited to, the following: ‘Health warning: Smoking is permitted within this facility, you will be exposed to secondhand smoke. Such exposure can cause or contribute to cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and other serious health problems,”’ said Gamble.
The health department’s smoking ban allows restaurants to have these gambling rooms, but there is no regulation forcing the owner to install a separate air handler to filter out the smoke.
April 16, 2013