Marion County Fl: County targets e-cigs; Nov. 5 hearing set

[pamdis]

County targets e-cigs; Nov. 5 hearing set | Ocala.com

After a handful of speakers urged them on, commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to schedule a public hearing for a county ordinance that would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine to minors, force retailers to move the devices and associated products behind the counter, and forbid their use in places where traditional smoking is outlawed.

 

[BuGlen]

I just saw this come across the news wire. If anyone lives in Marion County (around Ocala, FL), please contact CASAA board members if you can attend this meeting. We need local representation there to speak for the vapers. Thanks!

 

[stevegmu]

I don't see a problem with any of those proposals. Before long term studies and before e-nic becomes mainstream, e-nic will be prohibited just about everywhere smoking is prohibited.

 

[keskipper]

I don't see a problem with any of those proposals. Before long term studies and before e-nic becomes mainstream, e-nic will be prohibited just about everywhere smoking is prohibited.

Legally speaking, I see a huge problem with it...because it enforces this mentality "The agency claims such sales are illegal because it lumps e-cigarettes in with other tobacco products." Should e-cigarettes be available to minors? No. By the same token, they should not be "lumped in" with tobacco or traditional cigarettes. Once that precedent is established and accepted, it will be very, very tough (if not impossible) to undo.

Moving ecigarettes behind the counter? Yes, if in a non-vape shop, they should be; but if a vape shop sells only ecigs and vaping supplies, that is unnecessary. Finally, to concede to the forbidding of vaping in the same places where cigarettes are not allowed to be smoked is the equivalent of acquiescing that vaping = smoking, which it does not...

 

[DustyZ]

I just saw this come across the news wire. If anyone lives in Marion County (around Ocala, FL), please contact CASAA board members if you can attend this meeting. We need local representation there to speak for the vapers. Thanks!

I live in Marion County and will be attending the Nov 5th meeting.

 

[DustyZ]

I live in Marion County and will be attending that Hearing on Nov 5th, I was there yesterday and had provided some information in response to the outdated information that Commissioner Moore was using to get that hearing scheduled. The more people we can get to show up the better it would be. They had 5 people on their side.

 

[DustyZ]

I don't see a problem with any of those proposals. Before long term studies and before e-nic becomes mainstream, e-nic will be prohibited just about everywhere smoking is prohibited.

Did you really read that proposal? Yes there is something wrong with it, not only is the information they are using to try to get this to pass is incorrect and flawed, it's just another attempt for more control. The misinformation that is being continually spread regarding this needs to be corrected. Sale to minors is a given, however Vaping is not Smoking and should not be lumped in with it on any level. There is currently only 1 B&M in this are and it is actually a Kiosk in Paddock Mall, they give the customer the ability to try the juices right there at the counter, I have been there many times and Nobody has had a issue with it and the Mall allows it, if this passes it will take that away and would hurt not only the vendor but those wishing to try out an e-cigarette or other device to help them stop smoking. So yes this is a big issue.

 

[stevegmu]

Legally speaking, I see a huge problem with it...because it enforces this mentality "The agency claims such sales are illegal because it lumps e-cigarettes in with other tobacco products." Should e-cigarettes be available to minors? No. By the same token, they should not be "lumped in" with tobacco or traditional cigarettes. Once that precedent is established and accepted, it will be very, very tough (if not impossible) to undo.

Moving ecigarettes behind the counter? Yes, if in a non-vape shop, they should be; but if a vape shop sells only ecigs and vaping supplies, that is unnecessary. Finally, to concede to the forbidding of vaping in the same places where cigarettes are not allowed to be smoked is the equivalent of acquiescing that vaping = smoking, which it does not...

If these restrictions are passed, the nanny-staters won't have much in the way of ammo to go after vaping. I don't care about vaping everywhere. If passing the 3 restrictions is enough for them to leave vaping alone, that would be ideal, as far as I am concerned.

 

[stevegmu]

Did you really read that proposal? Yes there is something wrong with it, not only is the information they are using to try to get this to pass is incorrect and flawed, it's just another attempt for more control. The misinformation that is being continually spread regarding this needs to be corrected. Sale to minors is a given, however Vaping is not Smoking and should not be lumped in with it on any level. There is currently only 1 B&M in this are and it is actually a Kiosk in Paddock Mall, they give the customer the ability to try the juices right there at the counter, I have been there many times and Nobody has had a issue with it and the Mall allows it, if this passes it will take that away and would hurt not only the vendor but those wishing to try out an e-cigarette or other device to help them stop smoking. So yes this is a big issue.

I read the article. There was no link provided for the proposal.

 

[DustyZ]

Received this today from my correspondence the other day with the Board of Commissioners.

Good afternoon,



Thank you for contacting the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. The commission will hold a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance pertaining to the sale and use of electronic smoking devices and liquid nicotine at 9:00 a.m. on November 5, 2013 in the commission auditorium located at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. The meeting may be viewed live on the official county website at the following link: Marion County Board of County Commissioners.



As this is a public hearing, anyone wishing to address the commission will be permitted to do so at this meeting.



Sincerely,



Teresa

Teresa Darnell

Executive Assistant

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

601 S.E. 25th Avenue

Ocala, FL 34471

(352) 438-2323

(352) 438-2324 Fax

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

 

[noxdrako]

I am back to living in Ocala and would be interested in attending, however I have a doctors appointment on the 5th of nov. at 11 am so will be unable to attend. Is there any other way for me as a resident to support our cause? Also, since moving back I have actually not been in the mall where is this kiosk located? (Ive been back over a year, I generally hate the mall but would love to support a local retailer)

 

[SupplyDaddy]

If these restrictions are passed, the nanny-staters won't have much in the way of ammo to go after vaping. I don't care about vaping everywhere. If passing the 3 restrictions is enough for them to leave vaping alone, that would be ideal, as far as I am concerned.

Since when have they ever Stopped once reaching Any Level?? They won't leave smoking alone....

 

[klynnn]

You sure can tell from these articles which counties are losing the most smoker's tax money. They gotta fix that before they lose more.

 

[DustyZ]

I am back to living in Ocala and would be interested in attending, however I have a doctors appointment on the 5th of nov. at 11 am so will be unable to attend. Is there any other way for me as a resident to support our cause? Also, since moving back I have actually not been in the mall where is this kiosk located? (Ive been back over a year, I generally hate the mall but would love to support a local retailer)

You can send them an e-mail. In regards to the Kiosk it's located right in front of the Victoria Secrets store, can't miss it.

Regardless of whether you can attend, please reach out to the Marion County
Board of Commissioners and encourage them to vote NO on scheduling a public hearing on the
e-cigarette usage ban. Instead, encourage them to bring forward a new ordinance that would only ban
sales of e-cigarettes to minors.

Urge Opposition to the Marion County E-Cigarette Usage Ban
Comma delimited e-mail list: earl.arnett@marioncountyfl.org, kathy.bryant@marioncountyfl.org,
stan.mcclain@marioncountyfl.org, david.moore@marioncountyfl.org, carl.zalak@marioncountyfl.org

David Moore
Kathy Bryant
Stan McClain
Carl Zalak, III Earl Arnett
What to say to the members of the Marion County Board of Commissioners:

1. You are a Florida or nearby citizen and while you support banning e-cigarette sales to minors,
the Council should NOT ban e-cigarette use where smoking is banned. The
Marion County, FL To Discuss E-Cigarette Usage Ban on Tuesday Night ...
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Marion-County--FL-To-Discuss-E-...
2 of 4

10/13/2013 11:19 PM

Commission should reject Commissioner Moore's ordinance and instead bring forward a
new ordinance that would only ban e-cigarette sales to minors. (Remember to be respectful).

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. 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, Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University, 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.

For example, a study by the Roswell Park Center that was funded in part by the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) found that the levels of chemicals and toxicants in the vapor produced by 12
different e-cigarettes 9-450x less than in cigarette smoke. The authors noted that the trace levels
of chemicals present were comparable to what is found in a FDA-approved nicotine inhaler.

Additionally, a comprehensive review by a Drexel University professor based on over 9,000
observations of e-cigarette liquid and vapor found "no apparent concern" for bystanders exposed to
e-cigarette vapor, even under "worst case" assumptions about exposure.

4. Point out that while there are several e-cigarette exclusive stores that are
contributing to the local economy in various cities in Florida, passage of this ordinance would ban
e-cigarette use in any e-cigarette stores wishing to open in Marion County. This is because
e-cigarettes are not tobacco products under Florida law, and Florida law only permits "smoking" in
a "retail tobacco store."

5. 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 ("discrete vaping"). With so little evidence of use,
enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.

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 that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.

8. Direct them to the CASAA.org website, as well as the CASAA Research Library, for
more information.

 

[stevegmu]

Since when have they ever Stopped once reaching Any Level?? They won't leave smoking alone....

Smoking tobacco has been proven to be dangerous; the same can't be said for vaping. Once there are regulations, the nanny-staters will calm down and move on to another project.