Ohio house overrides DeWine veto of bill prohibiting local flavored tobacco bans

The Ohio House voted Wednesday to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of legislation that would prohibit cities from imposing flavored tobacco bans (Source: “Ohio House votes to override Gov. DeWine's veto of bill to prohibit flavored tobacco bans,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec. 13).
 
The move marked the latest effort by Republican lawmakers to block local regulation of flavored tobacco products, including menthol. Columbus is preparing to ban the sale of flavored tobacco starting next month, and Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland are considering similar proposals.
 
Anti-tobacco groups say these bans are necessary to reduce teen vaping, as studies show young people prefer fruit or candy-flavored e-cigarettes. And tobacco companies deliberately marketed menthol cigarettes to Black Americans, contributing to 45,000 deaths from tobacco use per year, according to the American Lung Association.
 
But GOP officials in the House and Senate contend the state should have uniform guidelines and say the legislation will protect small businesses. The bill says tobacco regulation is a "matter of general statewide concern," which opponents fear could wipe out other local anti-tobacco rules.