Washington County, cities tighten restrictions on e-cigs

Cities throughout Washington County have been tightening restrictions on e-cigarettes to bring them into line with traditional tobacco products.

Many cities — and county government — have taken a cue from the Minnesota Department of Health, which warns there's no evidence to prove e-cigarettes are safe to inhale.

"There's no regulation, no standardization. We don't know what we're getting when we buy these products," said Patricia Galligher, tobacco licensing and enforcement officer for Washington County's public health division.

She said that Bayport, Hugo, Lakeland, Newport, Oakdale, Oak Park Heights and Woodbury are among cities that have adopted ordinances restricting "nicotine delivery products" such as e-cigarettes.

The county, which oversees all townships, will update its ordinance this fall, Galligher said.

Woodbury, in June, banned e-cigarette vapor lounges but allowed an exemption to Smokeless Smoking, the only business licensed in the city before that time.

E-cigarettes, promoted by suppliers as an effective method for addicted tobacco smokers to reduce their dependence on nicotine, rely on vaporized liquids. Marketing includes kid-friendly flavors such as cotton candy and gummy bear.

Proponents of vaping — puffing on e-cigs — say it's cleaner, safer and less intrusive than conventional smoking and can be used to help people quit smoking conventional cigarettes.

Such products aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but health officials say liquids that are sold contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals.

On July 1, a new Minnesota law prohibited e-cigarette use in many public places, including hospitals and clinics, public university campuses including dorm rooms, and licensed day cares.

Cities across the metro area, including St. Paul, Edina and St. Anthony, have amended their tobacco ordinances to monitor e-cigarettes and "sampling" areas where customers try out products. That means no vaping in restaurants, bars or anywhere conventional cigarettes are prohibited.

E-cigarette use has been linked to future conventional cigarette use, according to a 2013 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 250,000 young people who had never smoked a conventional cigarette used e-cigarettes in 2013, the study said. That compared with about 79,000 in 2011.