Well, the vote wasn’t a blowout but a local proposed ban on flavored tobacco products did go up in smoke.

Sorry, do not pass go, do not collect $200.  The proposed legislation I’m referring to was for a local law to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in Albany County.  As WNYT reported, the ban failed to get the required 20 votes to pass.  In a close result, there were reportedly 18 votes supporting the law, and 17 against it.   Those numbers really say a lot, and I think reflect the split nature of people (at least ones that I know) on each side of this.

According to WNYT there were both supporters and opposers rallying outside the vote.  Some of the sentiments expressed?  Well, of course you have health officials talking about the dangers of these products and the youth.  I feel like I haven’t been able to escape that in the news (meanwhile the opioid epidemic keeps growing, cigarettes are still killing people, suicide rates are still going up, you know...). On the other side of it, one opposing store-owner talked about how the law would do more harm, and even if it passed, people can drive not even a mile to his other store by Schenectady County and get products there.   You can read all about the vote here.

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