Toledo cannot ban flavored tobacco or menthol products because Ohio Revised Code 9.681, enacted in 2024, preempts local tobacco product regulation and overrode Columbus and Cincinnati's prior flavor ordinances.
After Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland enacted flavored tobacco restrictions, the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 513 (effective 2024) creating ORC 9.681, which preempts municipalities from regulating tobacco product sales beyond state law. Governor DeWine vetoed an earlier version, but the legislature overrode the veto. Toledo therefore cannot ban menthol cigarettes, flavored vape liquids, or flavored cigars. The state preserves only retailer licensing and Tobacco 21 enforcement at the local level. Federal FDA regulation continues to govern characterizing flavors in cigarettes (menthol exempt) and certain ENDS products. Toledo health advocates challenged the preemption in court without success.
Local flavor bans are unenforceable under ORC 9.681 preemption; no Toledo violation regime exists for flavored product sales beyond state Tobacco 21 rules.
Toledo, OH
Ohio Revised Code 2927.02 prohibits selling, giving, or distributing tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products to anyone under 21 in Toledo, aligning ...
Toledo, OH
Toledo vape retailers must hold an Ohio tobacco vendor license and an Ohio Department of Taxation vapor distributor license; under TMC Ch. 575 and Ohio Smoke...
See how Toledo's flavored tobacco bans rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.