Flavored tobacco ban takes effect in South Portland

A flavored tobacco ban takes effect in South Portland on Saturday.

The city council passed the measure back in December.

South Portland becomes the fourth city in Maine to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including cigarettes and vaping paraphernalia.

Critics say flavors like cotton candy and bubble gum were targeting kids to hook them on nicotine.

• ALSO READ: Bar Harbor Town Council votes unanimously to ban sale of flavored tobacco products

Owners of smoke shops have spoken out against this ban, saying flavored tobacco is a huge chunk of their sales.

Some say it helps traditional smokers quit smoking.

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South Portland joins Portland, Brunswick, and Bangor with bans on flavored tobacco.