Will Denver Voters Repeal the Flavored Tobacco Ban? For Vape Shop Owners, It’s Existential

Local vape shop owners say that the flavored tobacco ban Mayor Johnston signed into law last year represents an existential threat to their businesses and a major blow to the City of Denver’s sales tax revenues. But will that be enough to convince Denver voters to repeal the ban this November? Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with two local vape shop owners — Kristen Hensel of Rusty’s Vape and Smoke Shop and Philip Guerin of Myxed Up Creations — to talk about how kids get access to vapes, the Zyn plant being built in Aurora, and what the flavored tobacco ban means for their businesses.

Paul talked about the Geek Bar website, this CU Anschutz report on Denver’s flavored tobacco ban, the surge in nitrous oxide, aka “whippets,” in Denver, and Gov. Jared Polis’ position on a statewide flavored tobacco ban, which he said he opposed in 2022. He also cited reporting on the repeal campaign’s 17,000 signatures and $328,000 raised. We’ve reached out to the Food & Drug Administration for comment on Phil’s claim of regular attempted busts at his shop and haven’t heard back. 

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