The Oregon City Commission has unanimously approved a letter urging Clackamas County and its cities to implement a ban on flavored tobacco sales. This push aims to curb youth access to flavored nicotine products in the Portland metro area, where neighboring counties have already established similar restrictions.
Oregon City leaders argue that a sales ban is necessary to address rising youth nicotine addiction. Data cited in the commission’s letter highlights that Clackamas County has higher youth vaping rates than its neighbors.
| County | High School Juniors Using Vapes (2022 Data) |
|---|---|
| Clackamas County | 12.5% |
| Multnomah County | 9.1% |
| Washington County | 5.6% |
Funding and Enforcing the Proposed Ban
To resolve operational hurdles, Oregon City officials suggested alternative funding and enforcement mechanisms.
“This effort could be funded through a combination of a tobacco license surcharge, collected by the Oregon Department of Revenue, and from affected cities,” the commission wrote. “If county inspection and enforcement is not available, perhaps inspection and enforcement could happen at the municipal level.”
Following Legal Precedents in Washington and Multnomah Counties
The push in Clackamas County follows prolonged legal battles in neighboring jurisdictions. In Washington County, voters approved a flavored tobacco ban in 2022. The Oregon Supreme Court upheld the policy in May, allowing implementation to proceed.
Similarly, Multnomah County approved its own ban in late 2022. Though legal challenges delayed the start date, the Oregon Supreme Court affirmed the county’s authority to enforce the ban in a July ruling.
Oregon City officials have requested that Clackamas County and its municipal leaders respond to the proposal by October 30.
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