Dear RMSFA Members and Allies,
Yesterday, the Golden City Council voted to ban flavored vaping products in Golden, Colorado effective January 1, 2024. The vote was unanimous.
During the last two months, we lobbied the seven members of the Golden City Council, but the Council members would not listen to reason, facts, best practices and science. Jodi Radke, from Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, led the opposition.
Golden City Councilor Bill Fisher - who is a nurse - was particularly egregious with his comments. Councilor Fisher was rude, dismissive, unprofessional, he expressed contempt for our members, he lied, and he viewed himself as a self-appointed savior. His reference to how his vaping flavor ban crusade was like Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior's goals were particularly disgusting.
On our side, we rallied dozens of our Colorado store owners, employees, and customers to communicate hundreds of emails and phone calls to the Golden City Council. Over 40 of our witnesses gave passionate testimony during two City Council meetings about the benefits of vaping. We advocated for a 21-age-restricted-store amendment and clearly communicated the illogic of prohibition.
Matt Moseley, our communications consultant, generated stories on local CBS and local Fox TV stations, published an Op-ed in the local Golden newspaper, and motivated dozens of Golden residents to contact the Golden City Council on behalf of our members.
We were able to move the effective date of the flavor vaping ban from September 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024.
In the final analysis, it was not enough.
Moving forward, RMSFA will be working with the three Golden vape shop owners on next steps. For example, we are exploring a variety of product adjustment options to remain in business and legal options. Stay tuned for more details.
More broadly, my fellow vaping lobbyists and I are prioritizing municipalities in Jefferson County that are near Golden to stop additional flavor vaping bans. We are also preparing for the 2024 Colorado General Assembly, which begins in January, 2024.
Stay strong and talk to you soon.
Joe MiklosiCEO
Bridge Consulting, a Public Benefit Corporation
www.BridgeConsulting.info303-919-4748
"Bridging goals between the government, business, and nonprofit sectors around the globe."