Advocates tout health benefits of vapour
Councillors told devices help smokers to quit
About a dozen vape shop owners and customers warned city councillors Monday lives could be at risk if the city imposes the same restrictions on using electronic cigarettes faced by tobacco smokers.
They’re concerned the proposed rules will make indoor public use illegal for the devices, which allow people to inhale flavoured water vapour generally containing nicotine from a personal vaporizer.
They say that could drive some stores out of business.
“My health had deteriorated so badly I was taking puffers to breathe,” former two-pack-a-day ironworker Terrence Rowland-Dow said. “My doctor basically told me ‘You have to quit smoking.’ I didn’t know how.”
The Beaumont man tried nicotine patches, gum and other methods of kicking his habit, but nothing worked until he found e-cigarettes, or vaping. This finally allowed him to butt out last year.
“My daughters get to play with their father, which they couldn’t do before,” he told council’s community services committee.
“Give somebody like me the opportunity to walk into a vape shop … and try this.”
Dan McDonald, co-owner of Vapour Choice in west Edmonton, said shops like his need to be able to let customers try their products so they can find the taste, nicotine level and style of equipment with which they’re comfortable, giving them a better chance of giving up cigarettes.
“I have helped thousands of Edmonton-area residents quit smoking and move to a healthier lifestyle,” he said, arguing vaping doesn’t produce second-hand smoke that can hurt other people.
“Unfortunately, this bylaw initiative and other initiatives in North America have led to this confusion between vapour products and tobacco products … Vapour products are not tobacco. There’s no combustion.”
Most outlets don’t sell to minors, although this is legal, he said.
While several speakers said a recent British study showed vaping has little risk, community standards branch manager David Aitken said provincial public health officials have urged the city to err on the side of caution by treating it like tobacco.
“The jury is still out,” he said. “There’s no conclusive evidence either way about the health benefits or the risks.”
The Alberta government is still studying how it should treat the devices, which were brought to Canada in 2007.
The committee recommended city council pass the amendments introducing vaping restrictions in its public places bylaw, although Coun. Bryan Anderson said he’ll try to have stores exempted, a move he opposed when it was unsuccessfully proposed last spring.
“I had felt that exemption allowing effective purchase and proper use of e-cigarette devices in vape shops was positive, because I really do believe this assists smokers in stopping smoking.” He doubts he’ll succeed. Coun. Michael Walters said it’s still not clear whether this replacement activity is safe.
“I feel uncomfortable about that. We have no ability to enforce behaviour, the products, where the products come from … We would be blind in providing that exemption.” gkent@edmontonjournal. com