published on Friday, December 25, 2009 8:29 PM MST
By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer
Montana State health officials have backed down from their initial stance that e-cigarettes are illegal to use inside any public building under the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act that went into effect Oct. 1.
But the state is far from endorsing the products that the Food and Drug Administration says deliver at least one carcinogen to users, and hopes the federal government prevails in a lawsuit that would bring e-cigarettes under stricter regulation nationwide.
This could be a public health problem, so were going to keep an eye on it and do what we can to discourage folks from using it, said Linda Lee, Montana tobacco Use Prevention Program supervisor at the Department of Health and Human Services.
When the law first went into effect, Lee told the Billings Gazette that e-cigarettes were considered by the departments attorney as a smokeable product and banned indoors.
For now, we see them as covered under the law," Lee said in early October.
But Lee said that stance was brought into question, and the department has backed away.
We, at this point, dont feel that we can go into a place and say, Youre using e-cigarettes. Thats a violation of the Clean Indoor Air Act, she said. But at the same time, wed like to.
Law hazy concerning e-cigarettes - Daily Chronicle
By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer
Montana State health officials have backed down from their initial stance that e-cigarettes are illegal to use inside any public building under the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act that went into effect Oct. 1.
But the state is far from endorsing the products that the Food and Drug Administration says deliver at least one carcinogen to users, and hopes the federal government prevails in a lawsuit that would bring e-cigarettes under stricter regulation nationwide.
This could be a public health problem, so were going to keep an eye on it and do what we can to discourage folks from using it, said Linda Lee, Montana tobacco Use Prevention Program supervisor at the Department of Health and Human Services.
When the law first went into effect, Lee told the Billings Gazette that e-cigarettes were considered by the departments attorney as a smokeable product and banned indoors.
For now, we see them as covered under the law," Lee said in early October.
But Lee said that stance was brought into question, and the department has backed away.
We, at this point, dont feel that we can go into a place and say, Youre using e-cigarettes. Thats a violation of the Clean Indoor Air Act, she said. But at the same time, wed like to.
Law hazy concerning e-cigarettes - Daily Chronicle