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Bill regulating e-cigarettes signed into law
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Posted on Feb 25 2016
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed this month a law to prohibit electronic cigarettes where smoking is prohibited, regulate these cigarettes under tobacco control laws, and keep them out of the hands of minors under the age of 18.
Senate Bill 19-23 is now public law 19-32. It amends Commonwealth code to include “electronic cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems” under the definitions for “smoking” and “tobacco products” under current law.
The new law states that due to the lack of research on the overall health effects associated with the use of electronic cigarettes and its potential harm to the non-smoking community and children, it is necessary to prohibit and regulate them until further studies are conducted.
The law cites the support the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Association has shown for the regulation of electronic cigarettes.
“Electronic cigarettes have triggered a fierce debate among health experts who share the same goal of reducing the disease and death caused by tobacco, but disagree about whether electronic cigarettes make the problem better or worse,” the bill states.
