HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 06-17 E-cigarettes get break MAPLEWOOD REVIEWE -cigarettes get break I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
E -cigarettes get break
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 06/17/2015 - 7:47am
By: Erin Hinrichs
As Maplewood tightens restrictions on tobacco sales,
four local e -cigarette businesses have established
themselves as the exception when it comes to in-store
sampling rules.
Although the newly revised code will prohibit in-store
sampling of flavored e -cigarette products for any
upcoming license applicants, the existing license
holders for Maplewood Tobacco, Simply Vapour, New
Smokes and Uptown Vapor Shoppe can continue
offering samples.
"[The grandfather clause] was primarily driven by the
business community," city manger Melinda Coleman
said in a phone interview.
Pulling seniority
Sue Sindt, owner of Simply Vapour, and Anan Barbarawi, manager of Maplewood Tobacco, were the driving forces behind the
grandfather clause. Both had attended the April 27 city council meeting, for the public hearing on the first reading of the revised
ordinance.
At the podium, Sindt framed the ban on in-store sampling as a barrier to attracting new customers, as it would keep her from
offering them in-person e -cigarette tutorials and flavor sampling.
And, taking exception to Tartan High School students who testified in support of the ban for their anti-smoking advocacy group,
Sindt said e -cigarettes offer an alternative to nicotine.
"It does provide great tobacco reduction for people who want to stay healthy," Sindt said at the meeting
When the council voted 3-1 for the ban, with council member Bob Cardinal dissenting and council member Marvin Koppen
abstaining from the vote because his business sells tobacco products, Sindt and her colleagues continued to lobby against the
sampling ban.
"They gave us a little bit more motivation where we had to go the extra mile and push it really hard," Barbarawi said in a phone
interview, adding the compromise forced them to rally. "it makes us more happy to be in Maplewood and do business [here]."
Standing by his earlier assertion that the city shouldn't impose further regulations on local businesses, Cardinal told the Review, " I
would just say that for people doing business, any disruption could cause them to go out of business and we certainly don't want
that to happen in Maplewood."
No heirs, no exceptions
The compromise left neither side gloating
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E -cigarettes get break I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
The four Maplewood e -cigarette businesses will enjoy their grandfather clause as long as the establishments are not sold,
rented or otherwise change hands. At that point, indoor sampling will be snuffed out completely, as the exception will not
be passed along.
"it could have been better," Sindt said of the outcome. "it might be difficult for my business to grow and expand if I want
to stay in Maplewood."
Katie Engman, program director of the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project, would also have liked to see things
pan out a bit differently — in that the grandfather clause had not been introduced.
She has been working with the city for the past 15 years on reducing the prevalence of tobacco use primarily amongst
youth. Part of that initiative, she says, is cracking down on businesses practices that glamorize smoking and flavored
products that make tobacco products more attractive to youth.
Even though sampling will still be allowed in select Maplewood stores, she still considers the latest ordinance revision a
win.
"This is one of the strongest ordinances in the state," she told the Review. "This is great stuff that they're doing."
Asked if the city is considering any further amendments, Coleman said she doesn't foresee it in the near future.
" I think the Tobacco Coalition would like us to look at some additional regulations, but I think we're going to hold for a
little while and let some other cities catch up to us."
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs@iillienews.com. Follow her at twitter. com/EHinrichsNews.
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