Minneapolis takes first step against e-cigarettes
Minneapolis is one step closer to banning e-cigarettes in places where smoking is prohibited.
The City Council's committee on Health, Environment & Community Engagement on Monday approved a measure that would ban use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places.
Supporters of the measure argued that "vaping" encourages nicotine addiction, and the inconsistent enforcement is confusing.
"Quite frankly we've waited much too long to achieve our state standard for clean indoor air," said Dr. Lisa Mattson, president of the Twin Cities Medical Society. "Allowing the use of electronic cigarettes indoors is a substantial step backward in this hard-won victory."
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"Likewise we have worked too hard to counter the tobacco industry's insidious efforts to hook our kids," Mattson said. "We would be remiss to now give that industry free-rein to push electronic cigarettes, devices that are simply their newest nicotine addiction products."
The committee took more than an hour of public testimony, including from shop owners and "vaping" advocates who defended the devices as a good alternative to smoking. They included Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association.
"We are not here representing big tobacco," said Conley, who testified against restricting e-cigarettes. "The Minneapolis and nearby retailers here representing the vapor product industry do not sell products sold by big tobacco and I am here to urge you not to treat smoke-free, tar-free vapor products the same as you do deadly, combustible cigarettes."
The entire Minneapolis City Council will vote on the measure Dec. 5.