Ban E-Cigarettes from Public Venues

Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS oppose the use of e-cigarettes in public places and advise the Michigan legislature of its opposition; be it further RESOLVED: MSMS seek legislation to place use of e-cigarettes in the Michigan Smoke-Free Act.RATIONALE: The Committee had spirited discussion and debate concerning the use of e-cigarettes and the dangers that they pose. The AMA Advisors brought forth a report by the AMA that discussed the potential dangers using e-cigarettes may contain. The amount of chemicals including nicotine are not measured or tested to know the true amounts. The amount of harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes have been shown to fluctuate, but do not emit smoke in the public endangering those around the smoker. Suggestions were brought to the Committee that the use of e-cigarettes was helpful in smoking cessation, but were rebuked by the AMA report that was presented by the AMA Advisors. The Committee believed that this issue will continue to be a topic of interest for years to come. Finally, the Committee debated the rights of the individual to use such a product, if of age, in a public setting. Some members felt that since the harm of the device was only limited to the individual themselves and not those around them it should be justified to be used by the person. Other members believed that the use alone is harmful to anyone and therefore the use should not be permitted.