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Buffalo Grove approves new rules for e-cigarettes, vaping

The Buffalo Grove village board has approved new regulations to restrict the use of e-cigarette and vaping devices, as well as the shops and lounges that sell them.

Among the restrictions are a ban on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping equipment in public places, and a prohibition on the sale of them to minors.

"There was just a program on very recently, where they mentioned all of the chemicals that are in e-cigarettes that they didn't know about before," Village President Beverly Sussman said Monday. "It's really an issue that is very important, so that our children do not become hooked on them. And they do have flavors like bubble gum and pretty holders to put them in, which would encourage children to use it."

The rules approved Monday were developed by the village staff in collaboration with the planning and zoning commission and the health commission. Village Planner Nicole Woods said they are an extension of current regulations on cigarettes, tobacco stores and smoking to electronic cigarettes, vape stores and vaping.

"The issue has been that the state regulations do not cover e-cigarettes and vape products the same as tobacco products," Village Manager Dane Bragg said. "We have had a lot of inquiries about these types of stores opening in the village, and they want to know whether we're going to regulate them the same as tobacco stores, and we haven't really had an answer for that up to now."

As a result of Monday's vote, village code now contains a definition of "tobacco shops" that includes the retail sale of e-cigarettes and vaping equipment. This allows e-cigarette/vape shops to be permitted uses in the zoning districts as tobacco shops, officials said.

Buffalo Grove weighs stricter regulations on vaping, e-cigarettes

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