WPRI:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island's capital city on Monday asked a federal appeals court to uphold two ordinances that ban the sale of flavored tobacco and restrict stores from offering two-for-one discounts for tobacco products.
The laws are being challenged by a consortium of national tobacco companies who claim the ordinances are preempted by federal law and the pricing ordinance violates the First Amendment.
The tobacco companies have urged the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to toss out the ordinances.
"Providence is working hard to protect our children from the harmful effects of tobacco use and the deceptive marketing tactics aimed at children," City Solicitor Jeff Padwa told WPRI.com. "We presented a strong case in defense of our anti-tobacco laws to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and we are hopeful that the court will uphold last year's U.S. District Court ruling against Big Tobacco."
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