Denver’s Flavored Tobacco Fight Heats Up Ahead of November Vote
The battle over flavored tobacco in Denver is turning into one of the city’s most expensive local ballot fights — and both sides are digging in.
So far, more than $650,000 has poured into campaigns for and against Referendum 310, the measure that will decide whether Denver keeps or repeals its ban on flavored nicotine products.
What’s at Stake
Denver’s City Council voted last year to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products — everything from fruit-flavored vapes to mint nicotine pouches. But enforcement of that ban has been paused while voters have the final say this November.
The question on the ballot might be a little confusing:
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A “Yes” vote means keeping the ban in place.
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A “No” vote means repealing the ban and allowing flavored products to be sold again.
The Money Trail
Campaign filings show the repeal side — known as Citizen Power! — has the fundraising edge, pulling in about $410,000 so far. That total includes:
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$75,000 each from tobacco giants Altria and Philip Morris International
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Nearly $173,000 from the Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance, a group representing local vape businesses
Meanwhile, the campaign to keep the ban, Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco, has raised around $245,000. Notable donors include:
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Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $73,500
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The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, with over $15,000
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Kaiser Permanente, which gave $50,000
Small Business vs. Big Public Health
Supporters of the repeal say the ban won’t stop youth from accessing flavored products — it will just push purchases to nearby cities or online. Instead, they argue, the ban punishes small, locally owned vape shops and convenience stores, cutting into sales and costing Denver millions in lost tax revenue.
“Denver voters can’t be bought out by out-of-state billionaires,” said Phil Guerin, owner of Myxed Up Creations, a long-standing vape shop on Colfax Avenue. “Our livelihoods are at stake.”
On the other side, public health advocates say the flavor ban is a necessary tool to stop youth nicotine addiction before it starts. They point to sweet flavor profiles — think “Raspberry Chill” and “Root Beer Float” — as gateways for teens who might otherwise never pick up nicotine.
“310 will protect kids from becoming the next victims of tobacco addiction,” said Nick Torres, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Colorado.
What’s Next
With both sides well-funded, Denver residents can expect to see plenty of ads, mailers, and online campaigns in the coming weeks. The outcome of this vote could ripple far beyond the city, setting the tone for how other local governments handle nicotine regulation across the country.
Whether Denver keeps or kills its flavored tobacco ban, one thing is clear: the debate over nicotine regulation — and how far it should go — is only getting louder.
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