According to a report by American media outlet Portland Tribune on December 30th, an Oregon court has issued a stay order, temporarily halting the enforcement of the newly implemented ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products in Multnomah County.
This means that the ban, originally scheduled to take effect on Monday, January 1st, will not be implemented after the court issued a temporary restraining order on December 28th, unless the court lifts the temporary restraining order or makes a final ruling on the legality of the ban.
The ban primarily targets the highly popular flavored tobacco and nicotine products among the adolescent demographic. This ruling has sparked an immediate response from anti-smoking organizations within the state. These organizations are calling on the state government to take swift action in order to prevent further youth addiction to nicotine.
The anti-smoking organization, Flavors Hook Oregon Kids, accused e-cigarettes of sourcing their main ingredient, nicotine, from tobacco during a press conference. They claimed that although e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, “big tobacco” uses flavored tobacco products such as cotton candy, watermelon, and mint to attract and addict young people to nicotine and tobacco. The organization consists of more than 60 member institutions focused on the health of Oregon’s youth and aims to put an end to the sale of various flavored tobacco products.
If the ban takes effect, Martenoma County will become the first county in Oregon to implement such a prohibition.
Washington has previously attempted a similar ban, but in the autumn of 2022, the decision of Washington County Court overturned the ordinance.
