US: Big Island Mayor Signs E-cig Ban

Source from:  West Hawaii Today 01/15/2015

Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill that makes Hawaii County the first in the state restricting the use of electronic cigarettes to the same places traditional tobacco cigarettes can be smoked.

The bill had squeezed through the County Council last month on a 5-4 vote. Proponents praised the measure as a way to make Hawaii County healthier, especially for children.

Kenoi agreed.

"I support the fact that the County Council and the administration promote Hawaii Island as a healthy island," Kenoi said Tuesday. "This is for a healthier, safer Hawaii Island."

The new law, banning e-cigarette use at beaches, county parks, public buildings and anywhere else smoking is banned, went into effect upon his signature. Kenoi said he signed the bill Monday.

Opponents say there is no evidence e-cigarettes are harmful. They point to the increasing number of people using the devices as a way to wean themselves off traditional cigarettes and ultimately quitting nicotine altogether.

If e-cigarettes are so harmful in open-air environments such as beaches and parks, why not ban charcoal grills and aerosol insect sprays and sunscreens there too, they ask.

Proponents of the bill said allowing people to "vape," as using the devices is called, sends the wrong message to youth. A recent state Department of Health survey found the number of high school students who have used e-cigarettes at least once tripled from 5.1 percent in 2011 to 17.6 percent in 2013. E-cigarette use quadrupled among middle school students from 1.8 percent to 7.9 percent during the same period.

State Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said it's likely the state Legislature will be working on statewide controls when the legislative session starts Jan. 21. Among them is a measure he says will bring parity between e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.

"It will be one size fits all," Green said about how e-cigarettes would be regulated compared to traditional cigarettes. Enditem