The Wakulla County Commission is meeting Tuesday to consider repealing a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco before it even goes in to effect. The Commission is revisiting the debate for a second time after it passed an ordinance to ban the substance in November.
The original county ordinance bans the sale of flavored tobacco products in any establishment that is opened to any one under the age of 21. Wakulla County Commissioner, Dr. Howard Kessler, said he agrees with the spirit of the law.
“I as a physician, and I as a person, have a large problem with tobacco products, and especially accessibility to the youth, and especially marketing to the youth," Kessler said.
Now some county officials want to repeal the ban because of concerns raised by the business community. Kessler said if the ban is repealed, he’d like to see the ordinance come back- this time with a focus on enforcement. If the Commission doesn’t repeal the measure, it will take effect on February 1st.