States have enacted laws to regulate e-cigarettes

States have enacted laws to regulate e-cigarettes (Alberta Times) Electronic cigarettes (E-Cigarettes) are becoming more and more popular, but because the federal government does not regulate e-cigarettes...

States have enacted laws to regulate e-cigarettes (Alberta Times) Electronic cigarettes (E-Cigarettes) are becoming more and more popular, but because there are no federal regulations regulating e-cigarettes, the debate over whether this alternative to traditional cigarettes will affect public health has become increasingly fierce, and states have begun to enact relevant laws. Lawmakers in states from Arizona to New York are now introducing legislation to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Laws in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Utah have been expanded to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places, and lawmakers in some states have even proposed imposing special taxes. As more people switch to e-cigarettes, relevant laws have been introduced. E-cigarettes are powered by batteries that turn liquid nicotine into vapor for inhalation. Industry estimates suggest that since e-cigarettes were imported from China five years ago, annual sales across the country have increased from 250 million yuan to 500 million yuan. However, for the US cigarette market of approximately 100 billion yuan, the ratio is still relatively small. A survey by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 2.7% of adults nationwide had tried e-cigarettes in 2010, an increase of 0.6% from the previous year. Anti-smoking groups seeking to tighten regulations on e-cigarettes say their health effects remain unclear and scientific research is lacking. In addition, because e-cigarettes come in flavors such as chocolate and cherry, they are particularly attractive to teenagers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in 2009 after analysis of laboratory samples found it contained carcinogens and toxic chemicals. The FDA said in April of the same year that it planned to regulate e-cigarettes like cigarettes, but has yet to make recommendations. It may take months, even years, for the federal government to formulate regulations. Vapers and some health experts say e-cigarettes can help former smokers quit more harmful traditional cigarettes. Hawaii originally banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, but last month raised the tax rate to the same as traditional cigarettes after more than 1,000 people wrote a letter opposing it.