A Montgomery County bill banning the use of electronic cigarettes in public places where traditional cigarettes smoking is prohibited goes into effect Friday.
The County Council unanimously passed the bill in early March. It also prohibits the sale of liquid nicotine found in e-cigarettes unless it has child resistant packaging.
When the liquid inside an e-cigarette is heated, it produces no tobacco smoke, however, it still contains nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Councilmember Nancy Floreen, chief sponsor of the bill, expressed concerns that e-cigarettes could be a gateway for youth nicotine addiction and incentive to try other tobacco products.
Teens who have never tried traditional cigarettes are using e-cigs putting themselves at risk for nicotine poison or exposure to harmful chemicals according to Councilmember Floreen, who said in a release, “I am not willing to gamble with the health of our current generation of young people waiting for federal regulations.”
While 30 states have clean air laws restricting cigarette smoking in public places, only three states have amended those laws to include restrictions for electronic cigarette usage.
The FDA has the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of all tobacco products in the U.S. but does not currently regulate e-cigarettes. The FDA has proposed a deeming regulation that would put e-cigarettes within that authority.
