Denver to Hold Referendum on Flavored Tobacco Sales Ban; If Approved, Enforcement Begins in 2026

Sep.25

A referendum to be held on November 4 will determine whether Denver retains its ban on the sale of flavored tobacco/nicotine products. Campaign finance records show that, as of the end of August, the side seeking to repeal the ban had raised $410,000, significantly more than the pro-ban side (about $245,000). The ban took effect in March 2025, but the city had planned to begin enforcement on January 2026; if the referendum overturns the ban, enforcement will not proceed.

Key Points

Fundraising comparison: Repeal side $410,000 vs. support side $245,000.

Major contributions (repeal side): Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance $172,700; Philip Morris International $75,000; Altria Client Services $75,000; Swisher International $12,500.

Major contributions (support side): Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund about $115,000; Kaiser Permanente $50,000; Michael Bloomberg $73,500.

Procedural progress: Citizen Power! submitted 17,000 petition signatures; 9,494 were verified as valid, successfully placing the measure on the ballot (Referendum 310).

Council background: The City Council passed the ban in December 2024 with near-unanimous support; Mayor Mike Johnston has signed it.

2Firsts, September 25, 2025 — According to the Denver Post, Denver, Colorado’s ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products will go to voters for a final decision on November 4.

The latest finance filings show Citizen Power!, which opposes the ban, has raised $410,000, outpacing the pro-ban Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco committee’s $245,000.

On sources of funding, the opposition received industry support: Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance ($172,700), Philip Morris and Altria ($75,000 each), and Swisher ($12,500). Funding on the pro-ban side comes from public-health aligned groups, including Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund ($115,000), Kaiser Permanente ($50,000), and Michael Bloomberg ($73,500).

The ban was approved by the City Council in December 2024, covering most flavored tobacco and nicotine products; it took effect in March 2025, with formal enforcement scheduled for January 2026. If the referendum rejects the ban, the planned enforcement will not move forward.

References:

[1] Tobacco companies aid vape shops in push to repeal Denver flavored tobacco ban, outraising law’s backers

Also Read:

[1] Denver city council considers ban on flavored tobacco sales

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