Paul Praises State Law Banning E-Cigs Use

From Rockland County Legislature: Legislator Aney Paul is praising legislation signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that bans the use of electronic cigarettes wherever smoking tobacco products are prohibited.

“Gov. Cuomo’s decision to back this important legislation contributes to the meaningful protection of the public’s health,” Legislator Paul said. “This is especially true when it comes to children, who have been targeted by e-cig companies.”

Paul, a nurse for more than 30 years, has been a vocal opponent of e-cigs due to their potential harmful health impacts and in 2015, she successfully sponsored changes to Rockland County’s smoking law to address the issue.

Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat liquid chemicals, including highly-addictive nicotine, into a vapor that is inhaled and exhaled by smokers. There is no regulation of what chemicals e-cigs may contain.

Young people may be at particular risk, as Paul notes that many of the e-cig aerosol cartridges come in bright colors and sport such flavors as Bubble Gum, Yummy Gummy and Cherry Crush.

The governor signed the law this week, adding electronic cigarettes to the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act. The goal is to reduce the exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals for e-cigarette users and those around them.

Under current state law, only smoking substances containing tobacco, including cigars, cigarettes or pipes, are restricted in public places. While counties such as Rockland have already banned the use of e-cigarettes in public places, including restaurants, bars and other work places, the new legislation makes the law consistent across the state.

Image via the Rockland County Legislature