Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Vape Store Owners Seek Additional Delay As State Ban Looms

The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services says e-cigarette products should "never be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products."
iStock
The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services says e-cigarette products should "never be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products."

Vape store owners are asking a Montana judge for an emergency motion to stop the Bullock administration from moving forward with a temporary ban on the sale of flavored vaping products.

The health department says it'll start enforcing that ban Wednesday.

Lawyers for the vaping business group Montana Smoke Free Association filed a motion in Ravalli District Court Monday attempting to block the ban. The filing comes after the state health department announced late last week it would enforce the ban on flavored e-cigarette products now that a judge's temporary restraining order on it has expired.

In the filing Monday, the vaping business groups ask District Judge Jennifer Lint to "confirm the existing temporary restraining order" or to extend the old one. Judge Lint has not yet ruled on the case.

The state argues vaping is a public health crisis.

Vape store owners involved with the case say it’s not their products leading to vaping-related illnesses seen in Montana and the country. They say if the temporary ban goes into effect they’ll be forced to lay off workers.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.