VOICES: Menthol and flavored nicotine products has devastating effects on vulnerable communities

Our elected state legislators did the unthinkable. On December 14, 2023, Ohio GOP lawmakers decided to add a provision to a bill to prevent any community in Ohio from regulating vaping, smoking, and other nicotine product use and sales. The City of Columbus had just passed a menthol and flavor ban. There were community meetings to hear testimony from both sides. I was asked to testify at several of those meetings. One was so contentious, that when leaving, several Columbus policemen asked to escort me to my car.