Rhode Island House set to vote on measure that would ban sale of e-cigarettes to children but exempts devices from laws that govern sale of tobacco products
Nevin Barich
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island
,
June 16, 2014
(Associated Press)
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The Rhode Island House is set to vote on a measure that would ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to children but exempts the devices from the laws that govern the sale of tobacco products.
The legislation is scheduled for a vote Monday.
Gov. Lincoln Chafee last year vetoed a similar bill. He said children shouldn't be allowed to buy so-called e-cigarettes but noted the legislation defines them as "vapor products," not tobacco products. That means they wouldn't be regulated the same way regular cigarettes are.
Critics call the legislation toothless and say it eliminates important public health protections.
An e-cigarette bill pending in the Senate would require sellers to be licensed by the state health department.
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