Multnomah County to Hold Nov. 28 Public Hearing on Proposed Ban on Sale of Flavored Tobacco and Nicotine Products

Multnomah County will hold a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 28 on proposed rules that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products in the county.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death, locally and nationally. Following a detailed briefing from the Multnomah County Health Department on Aug. 16, 2022, on deaths and diseases linked to tobacco among County residents, Chair Deborah Kafoury directed the Health Department to return with recommendations on how the County can reduce youth access to nicotine products.

On Oct. 20, 2022, health officials presented Multnomah County’s Board of Commissioners with a recommendation that the Board ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products to curb youth access to flavored tobacco products and reduce health disparities among people of color. 

The Board is seeking public comment on this draft Flavored Tobacco Sales Ordinance. The public hearing will be held on Monday, Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Multnomah Building (501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland) and can be watched live online. 

The Board is scheduled to hear a first reading of this ordinance on Thursday, Dec. 1 and a possible second reading on Dec. 15.

Those who wish to comment on any proposed flavored vaping and tobacco restriction may also submit written comments online. This survey will close Dec. 14.