DES MOINES – Legislators in Iowa are looking to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to persons under the age of 18.
A study bill in the Iowa House relating to vapor products and alternative nicotine products passed a subcommittee Tuesday. Under the bill, a person shall not sell, give, or otherwise supply any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products, or cigarettes to any person under years of age; and a person under 18 years of age is prohibited from smoking, using, possessing, purchasing, or attempting to purchase any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products, or cigarettes.
A similar measure was approved by a Senate subcommittee.
Iowa has no restrictions at this time on e-cigarettes.
Last November, Attorney General Tom Miller urged the Iowa Legislature to ban electronic cigarette sales to minors, add them to the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, and determine whether the state should tax the products higher than the standard state sales tax rate.
An e-cigarette has an inhaler that vaporizes a mixed liquid solution (sometimes called e-liquid) into an aerosol mist, that may or may not contain nicotine. There is a wide range of flavors and mixtures that can be used in the device.
Nictotine strength in the e-liquid can range from 6 milligrams to 32 milligrams, and the device can be set to burn “hotter” to create a more powerful “drag.”
