Multnomah County, Oregon, to ban flavored vapes

Multnomah County, the largest county in Oregon and home to the state’s largest population center, will ban all flavored e-cigarettes except tobacco flavor starting January 1 next year. The ban will officially take effect after a court challenge.

Last week, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Souede denied the tobacco industry’s request to pause enforcement of the county ordinance.

According to media reports, the decision clears the way for Multnomah County to become the first county in Oregon to ban flavored tobacco products.

Earlier this year in Salem, state lawmakers considered House Bill 3090, which would have imposed a similar statewide ban. It was supported by one Republican lawmaker, Senator Bill Hansell of Athena, as well as Portland-area physicians-turned-senators Lisa Reynolds and Elizabeth Steiner.

The bill passed the House Health Committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, but failed to advance out of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.