Final passage and authorization of a county tobacco ordinance is still in the air despite being passed by the Carlton County Board of Commissioners Dec. 23. On Tuesday, Cromwell gas station owner Lance Line stated his concern at the board’s first meeting of the year. He said the new ordinance bans sales of menthol products but city ordinances could supercede the county law, meaning customers could seek out cities without a ban on menthol and get their products there.

Line said the ordinance would affect adults that had smoked or chewed menthol products for decades. The financial impact on...