UPDATE: The board has revised the proposed law: http://www.tpchd.org/files/library/22094f84d3b140cb.pdf
As written, the bill would outlaw sales to minors, but would still outlaw using e-cigarettes in most places where smoking is prohibited. The revised bill (which can be found at the address above) allows e-cigarettes to be used in public places where minors are prohibited, places of employment that are not public places, and retail outlets that exclusively sell or promote "electronic smoking devices".
CASAA has sent a follow-up email message asking the board to remove errors and speculation from Section 3: Findings, and to delete Section 9 so that use of e-cigarettes is not banned anywhere. found here.
When:
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
3:00-5:00 PM
Where:
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Auditorium
3629 South D Street
Tacoma, WA 98418
To testify before the Board of Health about an agenda item, step forward when the Board Chair asks for comments on that item.
________________________________________
Please call or write the Tacoma-Pierce County officials listed on this page: http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=165&l=a&p=
It is important that those who can attend in person do so. On May 18, a second hearing was held on the bill before the full Board of Health. Representatives from anti-e-cigarette organizations, including the American Cancer Society and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, testified in favor of the bill. It is quite likely that the opposition will be there and will try to push for a complete ban on public use of e-cigarettes. If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact the BOH members by phone or email. Be sure to thank them for the revisions that have already been made.
What to say: (UPDATED)
While the revisions do improve the situation, it is troubling that public use of e-cigarettes are being banned anywhere at all, because they produce NO smoke and present NO danger to public health. It is also troubling that there is inaccurate and misleading information left in the bill. When contacting the members of the board, whether by phone, email, or in person, the following points should be made.
• Start by thanking them for listening and responding so some of the concerns expressed, but some changes are still needed.
• E-cigarettes are not smoked. Change "electronic smoking devices" to "electronic smoking replacement devices" throughout the document.
• "Section 3: Findings" contains many assertions that are not supported by scientific evidence. Request that all except paragraph 2 be deleted, and that the word "replacement" be inserted between "smoking" and "devices."
• Section 9 limits where e-cigarettes may be used. In view of the fact that "A preponderance of the available evidence shows them to be much safer than tobacco cigarettes and comparable in toxicity to conventional nicotine replacement products," Section 9 should be deleted.
Link to CASAA's Call To Action page: http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=165&l=a&p=
As written, the bill would outlaw sales to minors, but would still outlaw using e-cigarettes in most places where smoking is prohibited. The revised bill (which can be found at the address above) allows e-cigarettes to be used in public places where minors are prohibited, places of employment that are not public places, and retail outlets that exclusively sell or promote "electronic smoking devices".
CASAA has sent a follow-up email message asking the board to remove errors and speculation from Section 3: Findings, and to delete Section 9 so that use of e-cigarettes is not banned anywhere. found here.
When:
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
3:00-5:00 PM
Where:
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Auditorium
3629 South D Street
Tacoma, WA 98418
To testify before the Board of Health about an agenda item, step forward when the Board Chair asks for comments on that item.
________________________________________
Please call or write the Tacoma-Pierce County officials listed on this page: http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=165&l=a&p=
It is important that those who can attend in person do so. On May 18, a second hearing was held on the bill before the full Board of Health. Representatives from anti-e-cigarette organizations, including the American Cancer Society and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, testified in favor of the bill. It is quite likely that the opposition will be there and will try to push for a complete ban on public use of e-cigarettes. If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact the BOH members by phone or email. Be sure to thank them for the revisions that have already been made.
What to say: (UPDATED)
While the revisions do improve the situation, it is troubling that public use of e-cigarettes are being banned anywhere at all, because they produce NO smoke and present NO danger to public health. It is also troubling that there is inaccurate and misleading information left in the bill. When contacting the members of the board, whether by phone, email, or in person, the following points should be made.
• Start by thanking them for listening and responding so some of the concerns expressed, but some changes are still needed.
• E-cigarettes are not smoked. Change "electronic smoking devices" to "electronic smoking replacement devices" throughout the document.
• "Section 3: Findings" contains many assertions that are not supported by scientific evidence. Request that all except paragraph 2 be deleted, and that the word "replacement" be inserted between "smoking" and "devices."
• Section 9 limits where e-cigarettes may be used. In view of the fact that "A preponderance of the available evidence shows them to be much safer than tobacco cigarettes and comparable in toxicity to conventional nicotine replacement products," Section 9 should be deleted.
Link to CASAA's Call To Action page: http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=165&l=a&p=
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How dare you enjoy vapor?!?
