TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — About a month ago, the Terre Haute City Council tabled an ordinance involving drug and tobacco establishments, then Thursday they tabled it again.
General ordinance 16, 2024 would restrict tobacco retailers, such as vape stores, from being within a certain radius of each other.
This would not affect gas stations or convenience stores, but rather just specific tobacco stores.
Tobacoo Free-Vape Free Vigo at Chances and Services for Youth has been a leader on writing this ordinance, along with Mayor Sakbun.
Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, Shannon Giles, says she wants to eventually push the ordinance further to protect kids in the local community.
“I am looking for some further restrictions that will limit their locations with respect to anything that is youth oriented”, Giles said. “There is already a state ordinance that keeps them away from schools, but we’re looking to also add daycares, parks, community centers, churches, after-school programs, anywhere that youth congregate. We have data that shows if those shops are visible to youth, the longer they are visible to youth, the more likely youth are to eventually start vaping.”
The Terre Haute City Council is set to vote on this ordinance at their February 6th meeting.
