New e-cigarette bill would protect youth and ensure clean indoor air in all workplaces

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A bill adding electronic cigarettes to Minnesota's Clean Indoor Air Act was introduced in the Legislature this week as part of a bipartisan effort to uphold the state's standard of clean indoor air and to protect youth.

"Right now, e-cigarettes can be used in neighborhood stores and restaurants, in full view of our kids," said Representative Mark Uglem (R-Champlin), chief author of House File 1253. "Limiting their use means protecting the liberty of all Minnesotans to breathe clean indoor air in public."

Building on legislation passed during the 2014 Legislative Session, which limited e-cigarette use in some public places including hospitals and clinics, government buildings, and public schools, the new bill would further restrict e-cigarette use in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants.  

Sixteen cities and seven counties across Minnesota have already added e-cigarettes to their local ordinances that restrict smoking, including Minneapolis, Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Hennepin County and Olmsted County. Public polls consistently show a large majority of Minnesotans support treating e-cigarettes like conventional cigarettes under the law.

E-cigarettes are not currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are sold in candy and fruit flavors, and research shows that flavored tobacco products appeal to children and teens. No long-term studies have been conducted on e-cigarettes, so their health effects on users and bystanders are unknown. Studies have found that e-cigarette aerosol contains nicotine, heavy metals and other toxic compounds.

"I was disappointed that the Legislature left out a critical piece of my original proposal last year, limiting e-cigarette use indoors in all workplaces," said Senator Kathy Sheran (D-Mankato), author of the Senate companion bill, and chief author of the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007. "The public should not be asked to share the risk of being exposed to secondhand aerosol. And new research shows that e-cigarettes are growing in popularity, with almost 30 percent of Minnesota students having tried them. Kids should not have e-cigarette use modeled as acceptable behavior."

The Freedom to Breathe coalition is a group of Minnesota's leading health and nonprofit organizations who share a goal of maintaining the strong standard of clean air made possible by the Freedom to Breathe Act.

Freedom to Breathe partners include: Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Association for Nonsmokers- Minnesota, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CentraCare Health System, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota, Four Corners Partnership, HealthPartners, LAAMPP Institute, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, Metro-MN Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, Minnesota Medical Association, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Southwest Community Health Improvement Program (C.H.I.P.) and Twin Cities Medical Society.

SOURCE Freedom to Breathe Coalition