Health Board Seeking Ban Of Electronic Cigarettes In Canton, MA
On August 12, the Board of Health from Canton, Norfolk, Massachusetts is scheduled to have a public hearing about a proposed set of regulations on tobacco cigarettes. This proposal includes a ban on selling electronic cigarettes anywhere in the city, a prohibition for selling smokeless tobacco, sticks, orbs and lozenges and increasing legal age to 21 when purchasing tobacco products.
Noticeable Contradictions In The Proposal
Staff members of NATO (National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc.) contacted the director of the health board in Canton to notify them of the obvious contradictions in the proposal’s draft language. In the draft language, it is said that the regulation will ban selling of electronic cigarettes along with some smokeless tobacco; yet, traditional tobacco products are exempted from the proposed regulation’s sales ban.
In the proposed ordinance, the definition for smokeless tobacco is ‘any tobacco product that may or may not producer vapor, but does not produce smoke’. This excludes snuff or chewing tobacco.
Meanwhile, the traditional tobacco products have definition that includes cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff and other items that humans consume, which contains plant material of any form of the various plants that belong to the genus Nicotiana; of plants belonging to the nightshade family that includes Nicotiana tabacum species.
From the definitions of tobacco products, nicotine lozenges, snus, nicotine orbs and other products containing and dispensing nicotine are not referenced. The definition of smokeless tobacco products seems to be including these kinds of tobacco products included in the sales ban.
NATO has an ongoing project on local tobacco ordinance. In line with this, the association works in determining the real intention of the Board of Health and also in developing a response for the proposed ban on electronic cigarettes and other products.
Aside from calling the attention of the industry and supporters of electronic cigarettes, this proposal is noteworthy because this is the first local restriction that forbids the sales even of smokeless tobacco products.
Smoking Law In Massachusetts
Quite understandably, local communities and counties in the state are taking the initiative to implement bans and prohibitions on electronic cigarettes because the smoking law in MA is yet to include the devices. Vaping, in general, is still legal in the state except in specific areas where they are already prohibited by the local officials.
Canton Board of Health is not the first and not alone in keeping their residents away from these products whose positive qualities are not acknowledge by many.
Board of Health in North Adams has also banned these devices and their sale/usage by minors.
In Amherst, beginning October 1, no pharmacy should sell or offer cigarettes. The town presently has two CVS pharmacies and this new regulation will likewise forbid electronic cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products. If ever these products may be sold, it should be according to the laws that are meant for tobacco products.
In Needham, a buyer must be at least 21 years old before he/she can purchase electronic cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products. In the past, anyone, even minors can buy the devices without being asked for an identification. Furthermore, using electronic cigarettes in Needham is also banned in workplaces that prohibit tobacco.
In Foxborough, the health board also recently approved a ban on selling electronic cigarettes to underage customers. It is also not allowed to vape where smoking is disallowed. This ban was initiated August 1.
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