San Francisco approves historic ban of e-cigarette sales, a first for a major US city

[Eugene]

Source: USA Today

San Francisco officials approved a ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes Tuesday, making it the first major U.S. city to pass such a restriction.

Supporters say the measure will help curb underage vaping, but opponents who argue it takes away an adult alternative to regular cigarettes are preparing to put the issue on the ballot.

The ordinance will prevent residents from buying e-cigarettes in San Francisco stores or receiving online orders to addresses in the city until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews the products.

More than 3.6 million middle and high school students nationally used e-cigarettes in the past month in 2018, according to the FDA, despite the federal government banning sales to those under 18.

-snip-

Kristin Lam, USA TODAY Published 7:33 p.m. ET June 25, 2019 | Updated 8:07 p.m. ET June 25, 2019


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/25/san-francisco-e-cigarette-ban-first-major-us-city/1564800001/

[SCVDem]

1. With a different cartridge,

It's a E-Joint!

[USAF Brat]

11. and with yet another cartridge

it's simple flavoring added to glycerine with no other additives.

[cstanleytech]

2. So odds of the courts allowing this? Offhand I do not see them prevailing in banning something

like this unless the feds pass a law making it illegal.

[Igel]

21. And yet the city council decided that it was likely the courts would allow it.

Neo-prohibition.

Some things must be allowed; others, probably less harmful, must not be.

[htuttle]

3. Yet they don't ban tobacco cigarettes?

Phillip Morris will be delighted.

[Control-Z]

4. Thanks for posting my very thoughts. n/t

[Doreen]

10. Exactly what I thought.

So they are encouraging the kids to start smoking actual cigarettes again? Does not really solve the problem now does it?

[mathematic]

20. Philip Morris owns 35% of the biggest e-cig company

So no, they won't be delighted.

[ripcord]

5. There have been enough blowing up

They should be banned until the units can be tested and regulated.

[Jedi Guy]

6. The ones blowing up have all been mechanical mods rather than box mods, as far as I know.

If the firing pin/button is pressed for too long, the battery can overheat and explode. They also have no real way to regulate the power flow from the battery to the atomizer. Box mods have a circuit board that regulates the power, and most have a 10-second cutoff, meaning they can't be fired for longer than that even if the button is held down.

I'd be perfectly fine with banning mechanical mods. The people using those are the ones who annoy everyone by "chucking clouds." The rest of us just want to get our nicotine without smoking and be left in peace.

[keopeli]

7. I agree wholeheartedly.

My juice is nicotine and vegetable sugar. It's even a vegan product! People are so reflexive and uncurious. The only reason for picking on vapes is that they look like cigarettes. A cloud of vapor is easily confused for a cloud of smoke.
If it suffices for cigarettes to be limited to those over 18, then it should suffice for e-cigs, too. I say this as a middle-school teacher. Vaping is, in my opinion, equivalent to drinking coffee, or perhaps even safer.

[mr_lebowski]

9. Vegetable Glycerin ... it can't be sugar ;)

Glycerin, which is used in all kinds of products we put both IN and ON our bodies, regularly, is considered about as safe as chemicals get. It can be used for freaking enemas ffs.

You saying you vape totally unflavored Glycerin/Nicotine mix? Doesn't that taste ... bad?

[keopeli]

13. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot the MINT flavor that I have added. So, there's that...

[mr_lebowski]

8. Seems like a great time to invest in a vape shop just outside Oakland West BART station

What a bunch of f***ing garbage. I love my home state and the Bay Area, but sometimes its the freaking Peoples Republic of California ... and it pisses me right the hell off.

BOOOOOOOO!!!

[former9thward]

12. A victory for Big Tobacco.

Ban vaping but keep cigarettes legal. Way to go....

[mr_lebowski]

14. This plan is freaking genius if I understand it correctly (nt) ...

[LanternWaste]

18. Sounds like another post ready-made for Creative Speculation.

Way to go!!!

[MosheFeingold]

15. How stupid

I thought Republicans were the ninny party.

Mitt Romney will be pleased, though.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. The ordinance will prevent residents from ... receiving online orders to addresses in the city....

Are SF city officials going to search your mail? I'm pretty sure the USPS will take a dim view of that. Also, there's that "interference with interstate commerce" thing going on here.

What if SF city officials disapprove of other activities of yours? Maybe they think you're reading the wrong magazines. They might as well intercept them too.

[maxsolomon]

17. Better ban alcohol, too.

[MineralMan]

19. Well, that will make it difficult for those using vaping to quit smoking,

won't it? I guess they'll still be able to buy cigarettes, though, so they can just revert.

[dchill]

22. On many levels, bad move.

[Akacia]

23. Dumb move.

I managed to quit smoking after 33 years by vaping. It made the whole process of quitting so easy. Then I gradually adjusted my nicotine levels and no longer vape either. Thank goodness I had the option to vape.