After two establishments that cater to smoking and vaping were established in Mount Vernon’s uptown in the span of six months, the City of Mount Vernon has established a moratorium on smoke shops for the next six months.
Kassy Rice with the Wellness Coalition of Rural Linn County approached the Mount Vernin City Council when the second shop was applying for licensing in the city. The Wellness Coalition of Rural Linn County worked on measures to support tobacco free parks, promote policies in both Lisbon and Mount Vernon to hold adults accountable for providing alcohol to minors, and worked with Cornell College and schools to establish policies in case of overdoses.
Rice said the coalition is looking at the effects of allowing smoke shops in communities, especially when it comes to products like CBD, hemp and marijuana THC getting an increase of growers and sellers.
The current age limit for smoking and vape products is 21 or older.
The moratorium sets parameters for what level of tobacco sales are allowed for smoke shops. The threshold is 10% of square footage or 10% of overall sales.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that limit allows most convenience stores to continue to operate or be developed in the city, as their square footage is below those thresholds for tobacco products.
“This moratorium is giving the council six months to review our zoning and codes to see if there are any changes we want to make for the future,” Nosbisch said.
Council member Stephanie West asked if six months would be enough time to do that. Nosbisch said as long as progress is being made or the city feels an extension is warranted to continue to develop, more time could easily be allotted.
MV approves moratorium on smoke shops
Nathan Countryman, Editor
April 11, 2024
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.