E-cigarette Regulations Debated in St. Paul, MN

[jamie]

StarTribune: E-cigarettes fire up controversy in St. Paul

PioneerPress: St. Paul's proposed rules on 'e-cigarettes' being revised

MPR: St. Paul uncertain about e-cigarettes

A proposed St. Paul City Council resolution that would regulate the sale of electronic cigarettes has been sent back to the drawing board... The resolution would treat "e-cigs" like a tobacco product, limiting their sale to retailers that have tobacco licenses.

DSI officials expressed concern about the resolution's wording, which could unintentionally restrict sales at restaurants and bars that are also licensed to sell tobacco. City officials expect to rewrite the resolution and reintroduce it April 3.

..anti-smoking groups warn that the health effects are still largely unknown, that the tobacco-free vapor likely contains harmful chemicals and that e-cigarettes make it harder to police regular smoking bans.

“The tobacco industry is now trying to find alternative ways to deliver nicotine,” said Betsy Brock, research director for the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota. “It’s dangerous the way they’re promoting this as a safe alternative. This has not gone through that scrutiny.”

 

[paleocon12111971]

StarTribune: E-cigarettes fire up controversy in St. Paul

PioneerPress: St. Paul's proposed rules on 'e-cigarettes' being revised

MPR: St. Paul uncertain about e-cigarettes

It really cracks me up how the ANTZ claim that vaping indoors makes it harder to police regular smoking bans. One time I was vaping in-line at Starbucks. There was a cop talking to one of the girls working there. Another girl, the cashier, asked me, "is that one of those Blus?" I said no, but it's similar (I was using a 21st century disposable). She yells to the cop about 10 feet away to see if it was okay, and he had absolutely no problem with me vaping. Law enforcement knows the difference between vapor and smoke. They're not dumb lol.

 

[PRIMER]

law enforcement knows the difference between vapor and smoke. They're not dumb lol.

um...fail.

 

[Tripster]

Minnesotan politics, similar to our weather...craziness.

 

[Vocalek]

Interesting. The Pioneer Press left out all the the negative comments from the anti-smoker organizations.

 

[jamie]

Not sure yet if they've done anything further with this per the previous announcement. Thought I'd drop in a couple links for those interested.

Saint Paul City Council meeting documents

Amending Chapter 324 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to electronic cigarettes

 

[Robino1]

According to the video of the actual meeting, vaping indoors is NOT illegal. The actual meeting, or vote if you will, just put the city into line with the FDA and the State in regards to Nicotine/Tobacco sales being illegal to sell to minors. They mentioned that E-Cigarettes were listed as a Tobacco product and as such is Illegal to sell to minors. The question was asked if using an E-cigarette was ok to use, say in an office, is ok. The answer was given that since it is Vapor and not from a combustable cigarette, it does not fall into the smoking ban.

I'd say it was a win.

Edit to add: One gentleman at the table actually asked (paraphrasing here) If a 15 year old was smoking it would be illegal for him to quit smoking by using an electronic cigarette which is better for him? To which it was replied that it is actually illegal for him to be smoking or to buy cigarettes at the age of 15.

 

[jamie]

That's good info, thanks. Just to clarify though, they were amending the bill to restrict WHERE and HOW ecigs could be sold, that's what the newspaper articles said. So I think that is a newer in-process effort that has come after the restriction on sale to minors.

Oh, unless you mean to say they've halted that effort in place of (what you said).

 

[Robino1]

That's good info, thanks. Just to clarify though, they were amending the bill to restrict WHERE and HOW ecigs could be sold, that's what the newspaper articles said. So I think that is a newer in-process effort that has come after the restriction on sale to minors.

Oh, unless you mean to say they've halted that effort in place of (what you said).

The clip I watched was in the Ammending St Paul chapter 324 link. The tone was not against ecig use but just making it a crime to sell to minors. Let me see if I can figure out how to link it here.

Edit: I'm on my iPad now and can't view it right now. It will have to wait until I can get on my desktop.

 

[jamie]

Per at least the MPR article, the state already has a ban on ecig sales to minors.

Regarding the listed bill, it appears they are planning to criminalize kids (pull them into the criminal justice system) for using or attempting to buy tobacco or related products including ecigs.

The articles also say they wanted ecig sales restricted to license tobacco retailers and that is what they were going to rework.

It's now on the City Council agenda for this coming week, April 17th.

 

[Horselady154]

No wonder businesses have been driven out of the country.

 

[jamie]

I watched the video for April 17th meeting. Here are my notes:


testimony: local tobacco coalition

- complaint that kids aren't protected because vendors aren't licensed
- explained components of ecig and showed samples of 901-style disposables
- emphasized fruit flavors and how attractive they are to kids

- stated that it's only marketing that makes people think they are safer than regular cigarettes and that they absolutely are not any safer because they contain the "highly addictive stimulant" nicotine and are poorly regulated

- said study showed that some no-nicotine ecigs contain high doses of nicotine and that ecigs contain ingredients "that we know are hazardous to human health, causing lung and cardiac inflammation, cancer, and cell damage."

- St. Paul should regulate ecigs like tobacco products just as the FDA does, like any other tobacco for sale in the city


testimony: student from group promoting health lifestyles

- "one day in class a fellow student began smoking an ecigarette" and told her to leave class if she didn't like it because there's no policy against it and this event "punished" her

- she went to school board and had a policy created (?)
- says "we know that ecigs are harmful and not good for you"


Ordinance passed 7-0, laid over to April 24th for final adoption