Vt. House passes $24 million in new taxes on health care, cigarettes

They're not cigarettes, but they're are close enough to catch the attention of Clark County Public Health.
E-cigarettes often look like normal cigarettes, but rather than burning tobacco, smokers puff on vaporized nicotine solutions. They're battery-powered and have a red LED at the end that mimics the burning tip of the real thing.
Health department leaders briefed the Clark County commissioners, who also act as the county's Board of Health, on the issue and proposed adopting an ordinance that would ban sale of the devices to people younger than 18.
The devices are often marketed as a way to quit smoking and are generally accepted to be much safer than real cigarettes – and without the secondhand smoke. But critics say “safer” doesn't necessarily mean “safe.”
“These products don't contain tobacco, so they aren't regulated as tobacco products are,” said Theresa Cross of Clark County Public Health. “In fact, they aren't regulated at all.”
The cartridges inserted into the cigarettes usually still contain nicotine, and there's no requirement that the packaging say how much.
The cartridges are also sold in flavored variants – which would be illegal if they were cigarettes – and in many jurisdictions, including Clark County, anyone can buy them.
“The only thing you don't have is a cartoon camel,” Commissioner Steve Stuart said. “It definitely leads itself to drawing kids in. And once they get into those, then now they have the habit.”
Cross bought an e-cigarette kit at at kiosk at the Westfield Vancouver mall. She said they're also sold at convenience stores in the county, along with the cartridges and flavoring.
It's also legal to use them anywhere, including public places where smoking cigarettes is banned by state law.
Earlier this year, King County banned e-cigarettes in all public areas, just like the state ban on cigarette smoking. County health officials there said it was a way to protect young people from nicotine addiction.
But the Clark County commissioners don't seem interested in a blanket ban on e-smoking in public places.
“The only ordinance I'm interested in is parity with other tobacco products,” Stuart said. “We do not need to tell businesses or adults what they can or can't do.”
Spokane County has banned sale of the devices to minors, closer to what Clark County will likely consider. The county also fines minors for possession of e-cigarettes.
Two of the three commissioners said they would consider such an ordinance, but Commissioner Tom Mielke – who smoked for most of his life and said he's all for helping people stop smoking – said he's not comfortable making on a ruling on e-cigarettes when it's unclear what their health effects might be.
“I'm not sure if it's the Board of County Commissioners to take the place of the FDA,” he said. “I have concerns over accepting this without knowing anything about it.”
The commissioners will hold a workshop to consider its options, and the county would also hold a public hearing on any ordinance.