Menthol flavored cigarettes are displayed in a store in New York March 30, 2010. A bill introduced in Nova Scotia on Friday would make the sale of flavoured tobacco products, including menthol, illegal.Lucas Jackson/Reuters
It would be illegal to sell flavoured tobacco, including menthol, under legislation introduced Friday in Nova Scotia, although the provincial government wants Ottawa to regulate e-cigarettes and the flavoured juice they contain.
The ban would also include flavoured rolling papers and tobacco products that are not smoked, such as chewing tobacco and snuff. It does not include port, rum, wine and whiskey-flavoured cigars that weigh five grams or more.
If passed, it would come into effect May 31.
Kelly Cull of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society welcomed the legislation.
"Certainly the inclusion of menthol and the very timely implementation date of May 31 makes this the most progressive legislation in Canada," said Cull.
She said, to date, no province has banned menthol, although the measure is included in a bill in Ontario currently at the committee stage.
The Nova Scotia government tried last fall to ban flavoured e-cigarettes and e-juice as part of its legislation prohibiting the display and sale of the products to those under 19, as well as their use in indoor public places. But the goverrnment backed off after a public outcry.
Health Minister Leo Glavine said the province will leave regulation of e-cigarettes to the federal government.