Key Points
- Fundraising comparison: Repeal side $410,000 vs. support side $245,000.
- Major contributions (repeal side): Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance $172,700; Philip Morris International $75,000; Altria Client Services $75,000; Swisher International $12,500.
- Major contributions (support side): Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, about $115,000; Kaiser Permanente $50,000; Michael Bloomberg $73,500.
- Procedural progress: Citizen Power! Submitted 17,000 petition signatures; 9,494 were verified as valid, successfully placing the measure on the ballot (Referendum 310).
- Council background: The City Council passed the ban in December 2024 with near-unanimous support; Mayor Mike Johnston has signed it.
September 25, 2025 — According to the Denver Post, Denver, Colorado’s ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products will go to voters for a final decision on November 4.
The latest finance filings show Citizen Power!, which opposes the ban, has raised $410,000, outpacing the pro-ban Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco committee’s $245,000.
Regarding sources of funding, the opposition received support from the following industries: Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance ($172,700), Philip Morris and Altria ($75,000 each), and Swisher ($12,500). Funding on the pro-ban side comes from public-health aligned groups, including Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund ($115,000), Kaiser Permanente ($50,000), and Michael Bloomberg ($73,500).
The ban was approved by the City Council in December 2024, covering most flavored tobacco and nicotine products; it took effect in March 2025, with formal enforcement scheduled for January 2026. If the referendum rejects the ban, the planned enforcement will not move forward.
