San Francisco set to become the first major US city to ban e-cigarettes
San Francisco is set to become the first major US city to ban e-cigarettes after city councilors voted unanimously in favor of the ordination on Tuesday. A final vote to pass the measure is expected next week.
The San Francisco Supervisory Board approved a health code change regulation to prohibit the sale, production, and distribution of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, on urban property. The measure specifically identified the use of electronic cigarettes and accused the entities of a "growing health epidemic of juvenile arms."
A San Francisco ordinance requires two readings and must pass a new vote next week before it can be put into effect. The supervisors expressed concern about Tuesday's impact on small businesses and said they planned to create a working group to help them if the measure passes, according to NBC Bay Area .
A central control center for disease control and prevention study from February stated that around 4.9 million middle and secondary school students dared in 2018, up from 3.6 million the year before. CDC director Robert R. Redfield said when the study released that the country must help keep children safe from a preventable health risk.
"The skyrocketed growth of youth's e-cigarette use over the past year threatens to eradicate progress made in reducing youth tobacco use," Redfield said. "It puts a new generation at risk for nicotine addiction."
San Francis's proposed ordinance is extended to a 2014 measure which prohibits the sale of such entities where the sale of traditional tobacco products is already prohibited.
The San Francisco E-cigarette company Juul hits frames as a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco. Juul has said it has taken steps to deter children from using their products. The company said in a statement that it has made its online age verification process more robust and knocks down the Instagram and Facebook accounts to try and counteract the vaping of those under the age of 21.
"But the ban on steam products for all adults in san francisco will not effectively address underage use and will leave cigarettes on shelves as the only choice for adult smokers, even if they kill 40,000 californians every year," said juul spokesman ted kwong.
san francisco also sets the stage for a November stamp fight over e-cigarettes. Juul has already contributed $ 500,000 to the Coalition of Affordable Weapons Regulation, which is set to collect signatures to initiate the issue before voters.
The US Weapons Association also opposes San Francisco's proposal and says that adult smokers deserve access to less dangerous alternatives.
