Senator Owen H. Johnson (R-Babylon) announced today that the New York State Senate passed a bill he sponsored to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to persons under 18 years of age.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as “e-cigarettes,” are battery-operated devices that vaporize cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals that the user inhales. Currently, there is no prohibition on the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.
“This legislation is needed to protect children and young adults from the dangers of smoking electronic cigarettes,” Senator Johnson said. “To date, electronic cigarettes are unregulated and have not been proven to be safe for use at any age.”
Electronic cigarettes are readily available over the Internet and in shopping malls. They are produced in different flavors to increase their appeal. Unlike traditional tobacco products, electronic cigarettes lack any health warnings comparable to FDA approved nicotine replacement products or conventional tobacco products. In addition, these devices are often made overseas in countries with less stringent standards for product quality than exist in the United States.
The legislation has also been passed by the Assembly and will be sent to Governor Cuomo for consideration.
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