SALEM, O.R. – Today, the American Vaping Association, a leading advocate for the benefits of vapor products such as electronic cigarettes, reacted to yesterday’s passage by the Oregon House of HB 2546, which would prohibit the ‘vaping’ of vapor products wherever smoking combustible cigarettes is banned in Oregon under the Oregon Clean Air Act. The bill would also ban the sale of vapor products to minors.
Gregory Conley, President of the American Vaping Association, issued the following statement:
“We remain deeply concerned that the usage prohibition will deter many of Oregon’s 500,000-plus adult smokers from making the switch to these smoke-free and tobacco-free products. Proponents of vaping restrictions are not relying on science. Instead, they are relying on hype and conjecture that is designed to mislead smokers and the general public into believing that vaping may be no less hazardous than smoking.
“Many bars and restaurants in Oregon welcome vaping, while others do not. In light of the complete absence of evidence showing harm to bystanders exposed to vapor, Oregon should continue to allow businesses to set their own policies.
“The politics at play here are particularly nasty. Rather than argue for the vaping restrictions on their own merits, the sponsors attached them to an otherwise laudable bill to prevent minors from purchasing vapor products. They are doing nothing more than using children as pawns in an effort to get extra goodies attached to their legislation.
“The Oregon Senate should reject the usage prohibitions and stand up for common sense and public health. Anything less will be a slap in the face to adult smokers and voters that support evidence-based policymaking.”
About the American Vaping Association
The American Vaping Association is a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and sensible regulation of vapor products, otherwise known as electronic cigarettes, with the goal of maximizing the number of adult smokers who use these products to quit smoking. The AVA was founded by Gregory Conley, a consumer and industry advocate with a long track record of advocating for vapor products dating back to 2010.
We are dedicated to educating the public and government officials about public health benefits offered by vapor products, which are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine or nicotine-free solution and create an inhalable vapor. The AVA is not a trade group and does not speak for any particular businesses, including our industry sponsors.
You can learn more about AVA and vaping by visiting the AVA website. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
