Oregon lawmakers are once again considering a bill that would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state. Senate Bill 702, currently awaiting a work session in the Senate Committee of Early Childhood Behavioral Health, aims to prohibit the sale of vapes with fruity and candy flavors, herb and spice flavors in dips, and even menthol cigarettes.
Supporters of the bill argue that tobacco companies target children with these flavored products, attempting to get them hooked on nicotine at a young age. Naomi Robinson, a junior at Lake Oswego High School and a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society, spoke with lawmakers in Salem on Tuesday about the issue. She shared her firsthand experience of classmates becoming addicted to nicotine due to flavored tobacco products, with some students even avoiding school bathrooms due to the lingering vapor and odors.
However, not everyone is in favor of the proposed ban. Joe Russell, owner of T Zone smoke shop near the capitol building, expressed his disappointment upon learning about the bill. He estimates that flavored tobacco products, including vapes, account for 20 to 30 percent of his inventory, and a ban would have a significant financial impact on his business. Russell also pointed out that the state's economy could suffer, as tobacco products in Oregon are subject to a 65% tax.
This is not the first attempt by Oregon lawmakers to ban flavored tobacco. In 2023, a similar bill passed a house committee before being stalled by a Republican walkout. At the county level, both Washington and Multnomah counties passed flavored tobacco bans in 2021, which were solidified by voters in 2022. However, these bans are currently on hold pending a ruling from the state supreme court.
As the debate surrounding flavored tobacco continues, both supporters and opponents of the ban are making their voices heard. Advocates emphasize the need to protect children and prevent nicotine addiction, while those in the tobacco industry highlight the potential economic consequences of such a ban.
The fate of Senate Bill 702 remains uncertain as it awaits further action in the Senate Committee of Early Childhood Behavioral Health. As Oregon lawmakers consider the bill, the state joins a growing list of jurisdictions grappling with the complex issue of flavored tobacco regulation and its impact on public health and the economy.
