Denver stores may continue selling flavored tobacco products despite ban

Despite the Denver City Council’s decision to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products within city limits, opponents are now working to overturn this decision through a voter referendum in November. Small business owners, including Phil Guerin of Myxed Up Creations, are fighting to keep flavored tobacco products on the shelves and inform the community about the impact the ban will have on their businesses. They have already collected over 2,000 signatures in support of overturning the ban. On the other hand, supporters of the ban, like Ozzie Grenardo, a family medicine doctor, believe that blocking flavored tobacco products will prevent young people from becoming addicted to tobacco and reduce the risk of heart disease. The group behind the petition must collect 9,494 valid signatures by March 19, 2025, to move forward with the referendum. Guerin and others hope to inform the public and dispel misinformation surrounding the ban, emphasizing that they are not big tobacco companies but small businesses fighting for the right of adults to choose alternative smoking options. The debate over flavored tobacco products in Denver is likely to continue as both sides advocate for their positions.