Republican Governor Mike DeWine Thursday vetoed an amended tobacco bill that would have barred cities from setting municipal bans on tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes. The veto lets stand Columbus' ban on menthol and flavored tobacco products that goes into effect next year.
Columbus city council held a series of public meetings on the ban in 2022, balancing public health with the concerns of small businesses. Public Health director Dr. Mysheika Roberts told council that the more addictive flavored tobacco products and vaping were attracting younger people to smoking, and that tobacco companies had historically targeted minorities with menthol products.
In mid-December, council approved legislation that would ban the sale of menthol and flavored tobacco products - with a few exceptions - beginning in January 2024.
By the next day the GOP-led Legislature added an amendment to an existing tobacco bill that would prevent communities from taking such actions, saying that regulating tobacco use is a statewide issue that requires statewide legislation. The bill passed in the lame duck session, but DeWine's veto means the Columbus regulations will go into effect next year.
DeWine says when communities make decisions to protect their children, that should be applauded. But he also encouraged the state to follow suit. In recent years cities and citizen initiatives have paved the way for statewide changes, limiting indoor smoking and raising the age to purchase tobacco products.
