Golden Valley Considers Overhauling Tobacco Ordinance
The Golden Valley City Council will consider tossing their old tobacco ordinance and adopting a new one that makes sweeping changes to how tobacco is regulated in the city. The Golden Valley council will discuss the change at their Wednesday night meeting.
The proposed ordinance incorporates the following new policies:
- Updating the definitions to encompass new technologies, nicotine products, and tobacco and nicotine delivery devices
- Prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco, including menthol, at all retailers
- Prohibiting the sale of tobacco at pharmacies
- Prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people under 21 and requiring retailers to post signs stating the legal age requirements
- Capping the amount of tobacco licenses issued by the City at 8
- Increasing the minimum price for certain tobacco products from $2.00 to $3.00
- Prohibiting free samples
- Requiring liquid nicotine products to be sold in child proof packaging
- Allowing additional compliance checks to ensure compliance with the new legal age requirements
- Updating the licensing requirements, grounds for denial and penalties for violation to more closely match similar requirements in other licensing sections of City Code
- Updating the license application and background check processes to more closely match similar requirements in other licensing sections of City Code
Later this fall, the council will discuss fines for violating the proposed changes.
To watch the city council discussion, click here.
Plymouth, Robbinsdale and Brooklyn Center have also raised the age to buy tobacco to 21.
