Vape shops exempted from updated smoking ordinance

Vaping is permitted in smoke and vape shops in Columbus, so long as those shops are in compliance with state law. That was the opinion city officials and legal counsel made during Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.

The council gave final approval on August 20 to amend the city’s smoking ordinance to include vaping and electronic cigarettes as being banned from businesses. Those devices are now treated as cigarettes. There was a question when the ordinance was amended about the possibility of exempting vape shops from the ban. That question is now settled in the eyes of local officials.

A number of organizations, including Healthy Communities and the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, asked for the ban earlier this year. All of those who spoke in favor of the ban specifically said it is needed to insure the health of area youth.

The ordinance goes into effect on October 16th.