Pubdate: Sat, 12 Mar 2016
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Chris Lowrey
Page: 4

PROVINCE BLOWING SMOKE: VAPING ADVOCATES

"We're taking some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we
further disadvantage them"

Critics say the Ontario government will hurt those using e-cigarettes
as a smoking-cessation aide by reglating them the same way it does
traditional smokes.

A new law, which would come into effect on July 1, would ban "vaping"
from any area where cigarettes are currently banned. The City of
Ottawa has already banned e-cigarettes from all city facilities, OC
Transpo and some outdoor spaces.

"We're taking some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we
further disadvantage them," said David Sweanor, adjunct professor of
law at the University of Ottawa. "How can you justify that as a policy?"

Action on Smoking and Health is a public health charity based out of
Britain that aims to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco. According
to a study published on the ASH website, "compared to tobacco
products, electronic cigarettes are significantly safer."

The Ontario government says it is moving to protect people from
second-hand smoke and vapour.

Sweanor argues that the danger posed by e-cigarettes is negligible,
especially compared to harmful things we encounter on a daily basis.
"Second hand vapour just isn't a problem based on the science."

"We're trying to normalize smoking cessation," Sweanor said. "What
this legislation does is the opposite."

Karim Yassine, owner of Electronic Cigarettes Ottawa, agrees with
Sweanor. "It's going to make quitting smoking harder," Yassine said.

Despite the fact that Yassine is in the business of selling
e-cigarettes, he said

Prof. David Sweanor regulations could be a good thing. He compared the
current e-cigarette landscape to the Wild West.

However, according to Yassine, the reason people have reservations
about e-cigarettes is a lack of available information.

"Some people see the vapour and think it's shocking," Yassine said.
"'Where there's smoke there's fire' and they just don't understand the
difference."

Premier Kathleen Wynne has said the rules around e-cigarettes need to
be updated.

"We have made a determination that smoking, whatever it is - whether
it's vaping, whether it's medical marijuana, whether it's cigarettes -
that there should be restrictions on that," Wynne said.

Sweanor disagrees. "If we took a rational approach to public health
instead of saying 'Just say no,' I think we could have a real
breakthrough."

- - With files from The Canadian Press
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt