Lander County adopts ordinance banning tobacco, vape and alternative nicotine products for under-18s

Lander County commissioners approved Ordinance 2025-01 on March 13, 2025, making it unlawful for anyone under 18 to purchase, possess or use tobacco products, vapor products or alternative nicotine products in Lander County, and prohibiting adults from furnishing those products to minors.

The ordinance, created in consultation with students in the Longhorn youth team and the county district attorney's office, establishes tiered penalties for repeat juvenile offenses and a maximum fine for adults. During deliberations commissioners adopted amendments that set an escalating adult fine schedule, require an education component (available online) and preserve court discretion to impose community service or jail up to statutory limits.

The measure grew out of advocacy by students and parents who described vaping as widespread in local schools. Haley Hamilton, a student who spoke during the public hearing, told the commission: "We are trying to protect the lungs of our youth, preventing nicotine addictions for their future, and encouraging healthy lifestyles." The district attorney’s office and the county sheriff’s office presented the proposed enforcement structure and explained limits and options under Nevada law.

Mike McDonald, chief deputy district attorney, said the proposed ordinance follows the authority the state grants counties to address tobacco and similar products and described how the county’s juvenile and adult penalty provisions would work. He told the commission the juvenile penalties mirror existing escalations used for alcohol offenses and explained that adult violations would be misdemeanors subject to fines and other court-imposed consequences. McDonald said: "An adult who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine of not more than $500 for each violation" in the draft; commissioners amended the draft to provide higher maximums and broader court discretion.

Public speakers urged stricter penalties for adults who supply minors. Lenny Goodwin, parent of a youth on the Longhorn team, said: "This is not a children problem. This is an adult furnishing problem." County law enforcement said deputies will start with education and written warnings and document incidents for later enforcement when appropriate; repeat offenses would be referred to juvenile services or justice court as applicable. The sheriff’s office indicated deputies will continue to exercise discretion, with the department documenting warnings and citations to support subsequent enforcement.

At the conclusion of public comment and discussion, the commission voted to approve the ordinance as amended. The final motion included: a prohibition on purchase, possession and use by people under 18; a prohibition on adults furnishing such products to under-18s; a maximum fine up to $1,000 for adults (with the court authorized to impose community service or jail up to statutory limits); a tiered escalation of penalties for juveniles and adults; and a mandatory education component to be completed as determined by the court. The ordinance will be published as required and take effect according to the publication schedule.

What happens next: the county clerk will publish the adopted ordinance and the county’s justice and juvenile systems will implement the education and enforcement procedures described by the district attorney and sheriff’s office. The ordinance as adopted applies countywide; commissioners noted state legislation under consideration could change age thresholds in the future.

Votes at the meeting: commissioners moved and seconded adoption as amended and the motion carried with all commissioners present voting in the affirmative.