Myrtle Beach businesses sue city over tobacco, CBD oil ban in entertainment district

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Business owners are suing Myrtle Beach, over what can be sold in the city's entertainment district.

The city passed an ordinance earlier this year that bans the sale of tobacco and vaping products, CBD-based products and sexually explicit items in the entertainment district.

[Watch your mouth: Profanity could cost you $500 in Myrtle Beach]

The ordinance is slated to go into effect on January 1, but businesses claim it violates several laws.

"Violates free speech, violates property rights, violates commerce, violates every constitutional right almost that you can think of," said Mande Wilkes, a spokesperson representing the merchants involved in the lawsuit.

Both the mayor and the city spokesperson said they do not comment on pending litigation.

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