The city of Fresno won a key legal battle when a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction requested by a group of smoke shop owners.

Judge Kirk Sherriff issued the 28-page ruling Friday, four days after hearing arguments from the California Smoke Shop Association and the city in his Fresno courtroom.

The city council approved new regulations on smoke shops, which went into effect in June. The requirements include increased security and operational rules. The ruling allows the requirements to remain.

CSSA argued the regulations violate equal protection under the U.S. Constitution because such rules did not apply to other types of tobacco sellers. The group also said the vagueness of enforcing flavored tobacco rules was unfair.

Sherriff disagreed ruling “that there are conceivable r

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