(29 Apr 2014) A law making electronic cigarettes subject to the same regulations as tobacco went into effect in New York and Chicago on Tuesday.
Proponents of the bans say they are aimed at preventing the re-acceptance of smoking as a societal norm, particularly among teenagers who could see the tobacco-free electronic cigarettes – with their candy-like flavourings and celebrity endorsers – as a gateway to cancer-causing tobacco products.
Dr. Thomas Farley, the New York City health commissioner under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said allowing electronic cigarettes in bars and restaurants would undermine existing bans on tobacco-based products.
But sellers and users of electronic cigarettes are steadfast in their opposition.
Peter Denholtz, chief executive and co-founder of the Henley Vaporium in Manhattan, said he believes electronic cigarettes could save lives by moving smokers away from traditional cigarettes.
Denholtz thinks the new laws could negate that effect.
Chris Jehly, a 31-year-old Brooklyn resident who smoked two packs of tobacco cigarettes a day, said he relies on the electronic cigarette as a vehicle for quitting.
“There’s no need for it (the ban). This is working so much better than patches or gum or prescription drugs,” he said.
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