DENVER (KDVR) — While 2025 is an off-year for elections, some Colorado voters will have some significant questions to consider.
Denver voters will decide if certain products should or should not be sold in their county. The sale of flavored tobacco products has been a topic of discussion in Colorado for years.
This November, Denver voters will finally get to weigh in on it.
“As small businesses, we’ve faced COVID, break-ins, construction, increasing costs. And now our own City Council is trying to put us out of business essentially,” said Kristen Hensel, owner of Rusty’s Vape and Smoke Shop in Denver.
She said the family-owned business has seen its ups and downs over the last two decades, one of their biggest battles these last few years has been fighting proposed bans on selling flavored tobacco.
“About 50% of our inventory and sales are flavored tobacco products. There are also a countless number of vape shops in Denver that are just vape products. So those ones will definitely be at risk of closing,” Hensel said.
Last December, Denver City Council members voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products after previous city council and statewide efforts failed years before. There is an effort underway to keep the ban intact.
“Big Tobacco knows that 4 out of 5 kids who use tobacco started with the flavored product, the pull kids in with candy flavors, only to push them into a lifetime of addiction and disease. That’s why Denver must vote ‘yes’ on 310,” an advertisement running on Denver television says.
Supporters who want to see the ordinance remain in effect said they want to keep the products away from young people.
“These products are addicting our kids. Flavors are the reason for that addiction; they are the catalyst for use amongst our kids, and most kids are experimenting with these products at 12, 13 and 14 years old because of it. So I think Denver voters support this policy change because they see it as a way to reduce use amongst our kids,” said Jodi Radke, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Regional Director.
Small businesses said it is already law to only sell the items to people ages 21 and up, saying the ban will lead to revenue leaving Denver County.
“It will be on the ballot this November as Referendum 310. A ‘yes’ vote retains the ban and a ‘no’ vote overturns the ban. We are asking for a ‘no’ vote,” said Hensel.
Both sides are urging voters to really read the question before marking their choice. Election day is coming up on Nov. 4.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
