TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- Wakulla County commissioners voted 5-0 to repeal a ban on flavored-tobacco, a measure passed in November of last year.
The ban that would have went into effect by February 1st would prohibit the sell of "candy-flavored or fruit-flavored" tobacco in stores who serve residents under the age of 21.
The commissioners listened to public comment from residents all across the county. Business owners were there express their concerns about how the ban will impact them. One issue, they said are contracts they share have with tobacco companies. Some of the local stores have contracts that require them to sell certain products for a particular length of time. Commissioner Ralph Thomas says they believe there were unintended consequences, and also stores and the county's revenue could potentially suffer if it were to go into effect.
Other counties like Gadsden have tried passing a measure like this one, the status of the county's ordinance is currently unknown. Wakulla County would have been the first of the 67 counties in Florida to implement this ban.
