The Oregon City Council has passed a resolution enacting a 270-day moratorium on new tobacco and vape shops, responding to a rapid proliferation of these businesses. This zoning freeze allows local officials to draft permanent regulations, including strict spacing requirements to protect local youth.
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The Yellow Springs Village Council has unanimously approved an immediate 180-day moratorium on new smoke shops. Passed as an emergency ordinance on June 1, the freeze halts the issuance of all zoning permits, building permits, and certificates of occupancy for new tobacco and vape retailers.
Under the new ordinance, a “smoke shop” is defined as any retail establishment where 20% or more of the floor, shelf, or display area is dedicated to:
- Tobacco and nicotine products
- E-cigarettes and vapes
- Hemp-derived or synthetic cannabinoid products
The temporary ban does not affect the village’s six existing smoke shops. Instead, it gives newly appointed Planning and Zoning Administrator Nia Holt time to draft local regulations, such as establishing protective boundaries around schools and parks.
Local smoke shops have already faced severe economic headwinds this year. Ohio’s Senate Bill 56, which banned intoxicating hemp products in March, wiped out up to 70% of revenue for some local retailers, forcing storefront closures and shifts to alternative products like mushrooms.
Council members supported the pause to maintain business diversity and address concerns over youth-targeted marketing. “We know the vape industry has targeted young people,” noted Council Vice President Angie Hsu, emphasizing the community’s desire for stronger local protections to keep these products out of young hands.
The Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday to decide whether Columbus can legally enforce its ban on flavored tobacco and vaping products. This pivotal case, which pits municipal “home rule” authority against state preemption, could reshape local public health policy across Ohio.
Columbus originally banned flavored nicotine and vaping liquids to mitigate youth health risks. However, the state legislature subsequently passed a law blocking local governments from regulating tobacco sales. Columbus and 20 other municipalities challenged the state law, leading to an appeals court ruling it unconstitutional, which the state has now appealed.
During the hearing, Columbus attorney Richard Coglianese argued that the state cannot simply strip municipalities of their constitutional right to pass local laws. Conversely, state representative Zachaery Keller argued that the General Assembly possesses the authority to override local regulations, drawing parallels to state-level controls over firearms, predatory lending, and hazardous waste.
The ban has heavily impacted local businesses. Mike Billman, owner of Billman’s Marathon in Columbus, reported a 35% drop in overall tobacco sales since the ban was implemented. “An adult ought to be able to make that decision,” Billman stated, noting that buyers must still be 21.
While the legal battle continues, the flavored tobacco ban remains in effect. A final ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court is expected within the next four to seven months.
Ohio lawmakers have introduced House Bill 849 to crack down on the state’s largely unchecked vaping market. Driven by concerns over youth addiction and illegal imports, the legislation aims to establish a statewide product directory and implement strict licensing requirements for retailers and distributors.
Read moreAll stores that sell cigarettes, cigars, and vaping products in Cleveland, Ohio, are now required to apply for a new city-issued license to continue operating. The application for the 2026 licenses, which costs $500 and must be renewed annually, went live this week with a deadline of December 31st.
Read moreupdated May / 2025
Comprehensive guide to Ohio’s vaping laws: statewide flavor ban, $1.20/ml tax, age 21 limit, public use restrictions, and local ordinances.
Read moreOhio lawmakers are considering a new bill that would significantly restrict the sale of most ingestible and intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-8 THC and certain CBD products. Senate Bill 86, introduced by Republican Senator Steve Huffman, would require these products to be sold exclusively in marijuana dispensaries, with limited exceptions for lotions, salves, and certain beverages. The proposed legislation has sparked a debate between supporters who argue for tighter regulations to protect children and align hemp-derived intoxicants with state marijuana laws, and the hemp industry, which believes the bill would devastate small businesses and limit consumer choice.
Read moreLicking County Board of Health to Conduct Annual Inspections of Retail Stores Selling ENDS Products
A new ordinance in the city of Heath, Ohio, will take effect on January 1, 2025, regulating the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to ensure that only FDA-approved products are available for purchase at local stores. The ordinance, approved by city councilors last year, aims to protect Heath citizens from purchasing unapproved vaping devices and e-cigarettes.
Read moreColumbus, Cincinnati, and Others Challenge State Measure Prohibiting Local Regulation of Tobacco Sales
On Tuesday (14/May), Columbus, Cincinnati, and more than a dozen other Ohio cities filed a complaint in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, challenging the state legislature’s measure that prohibits them from imposing regulations on tobacco. The cities argue that the measure violates home rule and would harm Ohioans’ health.
Read moreOhio lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a child present, but the proposed age limit for the child passenger would establish it as the weakest such law in the country. Senate Bill 106, sponsored by State Senator Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus), would impose a $500 fine for smoking in a car with a child younger than 6 years old.
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