Council approves first reading of ordinance limiting vape and similar specialty shops

The Clinton City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 703, which places density and accountability limits on specialty vape and similar shops and is intended to reduce youth access.

"Vaping does lead to severe lung disease, asthma, heart disease, and stroke, and does present risk with second and third hand smoke with individuals who may be around that," Shayla told the council while outlining the public‑health rationale for the ordinance and the city's plan to distribute updated alcohol and tobacco retail packets and ID‑checking materials.

Shayla said the council's aim with the density ordinance is not to punish current compliant business owners but to increase accountability and reduce youth access. She cited research and enumerated chemical risks in some devices, as well as the high nicotine content in many products.

At the public podium, Fred Richmond, owner of Tennessee Vapor Factory, said he supported some per‑capita limits but pressed the council for clarity on relocation and grandfathering rules for existing businesses. "So there's no just transferring my business license to a new address? Not as it's written today," he said, calling the relocation restrictions "very unfair and probably unconstitutional." City staff responded that grandfathering follows the property and that a business that relocates would typically need to seek licensure at the new address under the current language.

The ordinance passed on first reading by roll call (5 yes, 1 no). Council members and staff said outreach and enforcement materials will be provided to businesses; staff also invited retailers to a March meeting hosted by the health department to discuss compliance and implementation. The ordinance will return for a second reading before it becomes effective.