Limit, don’t ban e-cigarettes

Mount Prospect’s proposal to ban e-cigarette possession by minors mirrors a trend growing around the country; as electronic cigarettes grow in popularity, state and local governments across the nation have initiated efforts to regulate and tax them.

Millions of smokers trying to quit have used e-cigarettes, sales of which have doubled in recent years. These devices, which have proved to be effective as nicotine replacement products, have become key components in tobacco harm reduction strategies. Prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors enjoys wide support, although opposition has arisen from some anti-smoking groups who are pushing instead for a full ban on e-cigarettes.

Although most e-cigarettes have nicotine derived from tobacco, they are very different from other tobacco products, and they should not be regulated the same way. E-cigarettes have far fewer consequences for personal and public health, and several studies have found e-cigarettes are an effective and viable option for smokers seeking a nicotine replacement therapy.

Like many other legal nicotine products, e-cigarettes are not intended for use by minors, and Mount Prospect should take steps to enforce that restriction. The city must avoid overregulating e-cigarettes, however, because that would disrupt an increasingly popular and successful method of helping Americans reduce smoking or quit altogether.

Matthew Glans

Chicago