Sacramento Business Journal – by Allen Young
California lawmakers on Wednesday will consider a bill to regulate electronic cigarettes with the same laws that govern regular cigarettes. Senate Bill 140 would ban “vaping” in restaurants, bars and other workplaces.
A long list of health organizations support the bill as a way to protect young people from addiction to potentially harmful chemicals derived from tobacco. In opposition, e-cigarette industry representatives say they should not be held to the same restrictions as tobacco products because their product is safer.
“Our products do not contain tobacco and should not be pulled into what could be an avalanche of regulation and extra taxation as a result of this inaccurate characterization,” wrote Pamela Gorman, director of government relations for Njoy, an e-cigarette manufacturer, in an opposition letter.
Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated pipes that turn nicotine-infused liquid into vapor. They do not produce the toxic smoke of a regular cigarette, but they do contain potentially harmful chemicals. According to Sen. Mark Leno, the San Francisco Democrat carrying the legislation, 178 cities and counties in California have already passed laws restricting e-cigarette smoking and sales.
In addition to banning smoking in public places, Leno’s legislation also would establish licensing requirements for sellers of e-cigarettes and increase enforcement of the ban of selling e-cigarettes to minors.
Senate Bill 140 is set to be heard Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. The bill already passed the Senate along party lines.
Wow, ore beat cal on this 1. This happened a couple weeks ago here I think.