BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — Baltimore County officials are proposing new legislation that would impose restrictions on smoke shops throughout the area. The bill, introduced by Council members David Marks and Mike Ertel, seeks to establish a minimum distance requirement for tobacco shops.
According to the proposed bill, smoke shops would need to be located at least 1,000 feet away from schools, medical facilities, parks, and other smoke shops. Additionally, the legislation would prohibit the use of bright light displays at these establishments.
Marks emphasized the importance of regulating smoke shops, stating, "For the last several decades, government at all levels have tried to discourage smoking, and I think it’s important that Baltimore County takes steps that other local governments have done to regulate these types of establishments."
Tripp Dodson, owner of House of Haze Smoke Shops, expressed his concerns about the regulations. While he agrees with the need to keep smoke shops away from children, he questions the rationale behind restricting their proximity to one another. "That gets into the part of then when do we restrict any other business that has the same type from being next to another one," Dodson remarked. He pointed out the presence of multiple antique shops along York Road as an example.
Marks responded by explaining that residents expect a mix of businesses in their neighborhoods and do not want to see an over-concentration of smoke shops on every block.
Dodson also criticized the council for not consulting local business owners before introducing the bill, stating, "No one’s come and knocked on my door and asked me how I felt about anything." He plans to voice his opinions during the upcoming work sessions scheduled for July 28 and August 25, where community feedback will be gathered.
The council is set to vote on the proposed bill on September 8.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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