Ohio cities win fight with state over local tobacco laws

A judge said Friday that a new Ohio law lifting restrictions on local tobacco sales is unconstitutional for more than two dozen cities, including the state’s three largest.

The Franklin County Common Pleas Judge’s ruling Mark A. Serrott means that the cities that sued the state, the Department of Health and the department’s director can continue to enforce their restrictions. He imposed the law — which essentially bans local tobacco regulations — on the cities that sue, while leaving the cities that don’t sue unaffected.

The 21 cities, including Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, have said they need the ability to…