Health Versus Freedom: Crystal Council Considers Flavored Vape, Tobacco Ban

The Crystal City Council is considering a ban on sales of all flavored tobacco products. But some businesses are pushing back.

Over the last few years, the Crystal City Council has taken a tougher stance on tobacco sales.

In 2025, the council put a cap on its liquor and tobacco licenses.

Now, they’re aiming to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco and vape products.

“Our job is to think about well, ‘what’s the most important thing for the community’s well-being?’ We really thought long and hard about it, and feel this is the right course of action to protect the public’s health,” Crystal Council Member Forest Eidbo told CCX News.

For Public Health

Eidbo said part of the idea came from meetings with Hennepin County Public Health officials, who shared with them a commercial tobacco policy map.

The map was color-coded by different levels of tobacco restrictions in the county.

“As you can see, Crystal has nothing, but is surrounded by cities that have lots of different things,” Eidbo said, pointing out the map.

Ultimately, the council decided they wanted the city to adopt the most restrictive policies, preventing the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products.

Enacting that policy would align the city with Golden Valley and Plymouth.

Within the northwest metro, Robbinsdale and New Hope also have some lower-restriction policies in place.

Eidbo said the council is in agreement on this policy, and the broader goal is to focus on improving public health outcomes.

He’s also working on ordinances to combat sales of the opioid-like drug kratom in the city.

“I view it as part of the compact between citizens and their government,” Eidbo said. “It is understanding how we can protect our communities from externalities and situations that might be unsafe and take advantage of people.”

The council held a work session on the proposed ban in early August. 

Crystal City Council Member Forest Eidbo holds up a map displaying the levels of flavored tobacco policies in Hennepin County. As of now, Crystal has none.

Local Business Pushback

However, some local business owners don’t see the benefit in banning flavored products.

Gentry Chandler, owner of Dark Horse Vapery in Crystal, believes the choice to purchase should be left up to individuals.

“Flavored options [are] for adults. There should be nothing wrong with it,” Chandler said.

He’s worked at Dark Horse for 10 years, and just became the owner of the shop in mid-August.

He has a certain passion for the product — it helped him and many of his loved ones quit traditional, combustable cigarettes.

“Not only did I help myself quit with this, my girlfriend, my mother, countless other friends, family and relatives have all been able to leave the arms of big tobacco and go to something that’s a safer alternative,” Chandler said.

The main wall of his shop is almost entirely lined with flavored vape products.

He said a ban could be devastating to his business, and to the other tobacco shops in the city. One he pointed out that would be also affected is PurpleRose Hookah and Cigar Lounge, which is located in the same mall.

However, the impact to Dark Horse would be substantial. 

Most of his business involves flavored products, and he only sells four unflavored tobacco products.

“It would shut me down immediately, and put everything I’ve worked so hard for in jeopardy,” Chandler said.

His business is plastered in 21+ only signs, complete with a required ID scan for any transaction to go through.

He said he wishes the city would target bad actors rather than businesses like his own.

“I think us as retailers are already doing everything we can to prevent youth from getting ahold of our products. If you were to take this away from retailers such as myself, it opens up to an illicit black market,” Chandler said.

Dark Horse Vapery Owner Gentry Chandler demonstrates the four tobacco flavored products the store sells. Most of his items, as displayed on the wall behind him, are flavored vape products.

Next Steps

The council is holding an open informational meeting at 7 p.m. on September 15 at Crystal City Hall. Eidbo said the council wants to hear feedback from the community.

In the meantime, Chandler is collecting signatures on a petition opposing the ordinance in his store. As of late August, he’d earned over 250.

Crystal