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Portland-area minority health advocates want Multnomah County to restrict access to electronic cigarettes, especially for young people.
While electronic cigarettes don't contain tobacco, they do deliver nicotine through vapor to the lungs. Neither the state of Oregon nor the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulate electronic cigarettes.
"Research shows that e-cigarettes are often the first nicotine products used by youth who then go on to smoke cigarettes," said Midge Purcell of the Urban League of Portland.
The Urban League of Portland (Portland, OR) and several other community organizations that are part of the Oregon Health Equity Alliance told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners last month they want tougher regulations on e-cigarettes.
They are asking for taxes on e-cigarettes, age restrictions and license requirements for retailers. They also want a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes within 1,000 feet of schools.
"We will look at the information that was presented to us and discuss it with our government partners" such as municipalities, school districts or state lawmakers," county communications director David Austin said Friday.
In Oregon, counties serve as the public health authorities, said Eric Schmidt, communications manager with the Association of Oregon Counties. Each of Oregon's 36 counties differs on how to regulate their own proposals and health issues not covered by state law, he said.
To read the full article, please visit:
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/01/health_advocates_seek_regulati.html
