On September 26, 2019, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a public health warning to Oregon citizens "urging people to immediately stop using all vaping products." Shortly thereafter, on October 3, 2019, Gov. Kate Brown issued Executive Order 19-09. EO 19-09 directed the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to adopt emergency rules banning the sale of all flavored vaping products for 180 days.
In response, on October 11, 2019, the OHA and OLCC issued temporary rules that banned all flavored vaping product sales in the state. In a statement announcing the emergency rules, the agencies explained that "[t]he ban covers all tobacco and cannabis (marijuana and hemp) vaping products that contain natural or artificial flavors . . . [t]obacco-flavored tobacco or nicotine products, as well as marijuana-flavored marijuana or THC products that use only marijuana-derived flavorings, including terpenes, are not included in the ban." The ban was set to take effect on October 15, 2019, and last for six months.
However, a group of vaping-related businesses filed suit in Oregon state court, seeking judicial review of the emergency rule. On October 17, 2019, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued an Order that temporarily stayed the enforcement of these rules, pending the court's ultimate decision on the matter. Vapor Technology Association, et al. v. Oregon Health Authority, No. A172417 (Or. Ct. App., Oct. 17, 2019).
This stay comes just days after a Michigan court issued a preliminary injunction to prohibit a similar emergency ban from taking effect. Over the past several weeks states throughout the country, including Rhode Island, Washington, and Montana have issued similar bans on flavored vaping products. New York's contemplated ban on menthol-flavored nicotine vaping products was put on hold following a temporary stay on the ban issued by a court. These recent court decisions staying and enjoining such bans indicate that additional challenges may be forthcoming in those jurisdictions and any others that institute similar bans.
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