[full text of 13-058-0] [full text 13-059-0] [full text 13-060-0]
If enacted, these ordinances would:
- Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes outdoors: within 100 feet of the property line of any medical facility; anywhere smoking is prohibited per state law; within 15 feet of bus shelters; On the Lakewalk, on Lake Place or in public parks, any public area not designated for smoking in Wade Stadium
- Require a tobacco license to sell e-cigarettes
- Prohibit the use of of e-cigarettes within a licensed e-cigarette or tobacco store
- Ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors
The City Council meeting takes place at 7: 00 PM (Central) tonight at Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall 411 West First Street, Duluth, Minnesota. This is a first reading and there will not be a vote tonight, however, members of the public that wish to comment may sign up to speak at the meeting when they arrive.
If you can attend this meeting or plan to attend the future meeting regarding this ordinance, please contact CASAA at board@casaa.org with the subject line "Duluth, MN testimony"
Please call or write the members of the Duluth City Council listed below.
What to say:
1. You would like them to amend the ordinance to ONLY ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life.
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of secondhand smoke, but e-cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders. In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
The low risks of e-cigarettes is supported by research done by Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University, Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor.
4. Detail how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette, from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke. Additionally, e-cigarette users can decide whether to release any vapor ("stealth vaping"). With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. If you are a Minnesota resident and currently vape in public, talk about your experience. Do businesses you frequent allow you to vape? What about your office? Be sure to include your address and full name.
6. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch. Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
7. Tell them how important it is that smokers be allowed to try out e-cigarettes before they purchase them, so banning sampling in e-cigarette stores would discourage smokers from switching.
8. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
9. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.
Duluth City Council
Sponsors: Councilors Julsrud and Krug
Jennifer Julsrud
First Council District (Precincts 1-7)
4920 Woodlawn Street
Duluth MN 55804
(218) 525-2409
E-mail: jjulsrud@duluthmn.gov
Linda Krug-2013 City Council Vice President
Councilor At Large
P.O. Box 92
Duluth MN 55801
(218) 310-1628
E-mail: lkrug@duluthmn.gov
Patrick Boyle - 2013 City Council President
Second Council District (Precincts 8-13)
2201 East First Street
Duluth MN 55812
(218) 728-4185
E-mail: pboyle@duluthmn.gov
Committee of the Whole Chairperson
Jay Fosle
Fifth Council District (Precincts 28-34)
323-103rd Avenue West
Duluth MN 55808
(218) 626-3584
E-mail: jfosle@duluthmn.gov
Public Safety Committee Chairperson
Sharla Gardner
Third Council District (Precincts 14-20)
411 West First Street, Room 330
Duluth MN 55802
(218) 730-5353
E-mail: sgardner@duluthmn.gov
Personnel Committee Chairperson
Dan Hartman
Councilor at Large
2321 East Eighth Street
Duluth MN 55812
(218) 310-5356
E-mail: dhartman@duluthmn.gov
Garry Krause
Fourth Council District (Precincts 21-27)
1220 Stanford Avenue
Duluth MN 55811
(218) 727-2790
E-mail: gkrause@duluthmn.gov
Emily Larson
Councilor At Large
1331 East 11th Street
Duluth MN 55805
(218) 730-5352
E-mail: elarson@duluthmn.gov
Jim Stauber
Councilor at Large
130 Carlisle Avenue
Duluth MN 55803
(218) 724-1768
E-mail: jstauber@duluthmn.gov
Comma deliminated list: jjulsrud@duluthmn.gov, lkrug@duluthmn.gov, pboyle@duluthmn.gov, jfosle@duluthmn.gov, sgardner@duluthmn.gov, dhartman@duluthmn.gov, gkrause@duluthmn.gov, elarson@duluthmn.gov, jstauber@duluthmn.gov
