Denver’s flavored tobacco ban raises questions of freedom vs control

By Westword Readers | Commentary, Westword

Reader: Banning Flavored Tobacco Won’t Make It Disappear

Late last year, Denver City Council voted to ban flavored tobacco products. Now voters will get the chance to overturn that.

Late last year, Denver became the latest Colorado city to pass a ban on flavored tobacco products; it’s slated to take effect on January 1, 2026.

But before then, the electorate will get its say on this issue. Even before Mayor Mike Johnston signed the Denver City Council-approved proposal, a coalition of smoke and vape shop owners was putting together a campaign to overturn the ban, gathering more than 17,000 signatures to successfully put a repeal in front of voters this November.

Will it pass? Readers aren’t blowing smoke in their comments on the Westword Facebook page post of the story.

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