Posted on 12/13/2010 7:37:59 PM PST by Stoat
Five years after Washington residents voted to ban smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes in public places, King County wants to add one more thing to the list: Electronic cigarettes.
The 2006 state law banned smoking in bars and restaurants on the basis that second-hand smoke causes cancer and other diseases. King County's rationale for adding e-cigarettes, also known as battery-powered nicotine-delivery devices, to the list of forbidden acts is a little different.
The fake cigs, from which users inhale vaporized nicotine, don't emit smoke. Rather, they produce a less-smelly, combustion-free mist.
But public health officials say they're so similar to the real thing that they make tobacco enforcement difficult and often prompt smokers to think it's OK to light up in public. And that leads to second-hand smoke, health officials reason.
"The idea is that even though they're not exactly identical to cigarettes, people see folks using e-cigarettes, and they think somebody else is smoking," said Bud Nicola, a King County Board of Health member and affiliate professor with the University of Washington School of Public Health. "It makes it very difficult for inspectors."
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.com ...
For some reason, I'm not at all surprised that King Co. /Seattle would be the most aggressive in this, or any other arena that pertains to the restriction or banning of a legal substance or commodity.
Washington State Ping Request
banning something because it might incite someone to do something that is banned.
A NEW LOW.
And the smoke nazi’s keep on goose stepping...
Now the mere appearance of smoking must be criminalized...
Honestly, is anyone?
The day of e-smokers being able to "light up" in public are numbered.
Ahh but the one thing they didn’t count on.. the ecig is stealthy. If you hold in the vapor, no evidence of smoking at all. Hold it in your hand just right and no one can even tell.
I say its time for some open defiance of these stupid laws.
I don’t smoke, but this place sounds a leetle too fascist for my taste.
“It makes it very difficult for inspectors.”
AKA Butt Sniffers.
Not suprising for the King Co. loons. These people just want control and for nobody to challenge it, just like Russians.
Smoke em if you’ve got em.
Government scum!
The ecig is the reason I quit smoking after thirty years.
Now they want to ban it because it scares people?
King Co. today, everywhere else tomorrow (and for the same reasons).
BS. Let’s ban the public health officials.
If it gives someone pleasure, there is somebody out there trying to ban it.
It's kinda sad how compliant Americans are. Go to some of the airports in Europe and you'll see people light up right next to a "No Smoking" sign without a care in the world.
Screw these nazi bastards.
Uh, how about: If you don't smell smoke, there is no smoke? Too simple, I guess.
Yep...it's not about second-hand smoke...it's about control. The TSA won't let you take an e-cig on a plane, and smokeless tobacco is banned as well.
If there’s no tobacco leaves in it and no fire on the end what’s the difficulty. Pffft. Absurd on it’s face!
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