Vape and tobacco shops may soon be more tightly regulated in both the city and county.
Columbus County commissioners on Monday set a public hearing on the draft ordinance regulating vape and tobacco sales for Nov. 4. Whiteville City council will consider a new draft ordinance tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The county’s proposal was based on ordinances used by Cumberland and Wake counties, Planning Director Gary Lanier said. Across the state, rules prohibit tobacco and vape shots at different distances – from 500 to 2,500 feet – from schools, daycares, group homes, parks, halfway houses and residential support homes. The draft also prohibits more than one such retailer within 1,000 feet of another.
The draft identifies vape, tobacco and hemp retailers as selling “any product that contains tobacco or nicotine”; any product containing s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in hemp products; kratom; or electronic delivery systems of any THC, kratom or tobacco product.
Commissioners Giles “Buddy” Byrd and Laverne Coleman first expressed concerns about the proliferation of the stores in a September meeting. Both were concerned over the proximity of vape shops to schools, and the availability to the products to teens.
Byrd said Monday that he did not think 1,000 feet was far enough.
“If we’re not going to be able to put them any farther away than that, I don’t see a need to go to the trouble,” he said.
The board offered no changes to the proposal, and voted to hold a public hearing Nov. 4.
City council will consider its own proposed ordinance tonight (Oct. 8). Under Whiteville’s draft ordinance, vape shops would be prohibited within 400 feet of residential districts; 1,500 feet of a school, park, hospital or daycare; or within 2,000 feet of another vape store. Existing stores would be allowed to remain open with a nonconforming use permit.
City council meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Whiteville City Hall.
