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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 14, 2014 12:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Request for Co-sponsorship: Prohibiting the Sale of E-Cigarettes to Minors |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes and similarly named products to persons under the age of 18 years. Electronic nicotine delivery systems or “e-cigarettes” are products designed to look like cigarettes, cigars or pipes used to deliver nicotine derived from tobacco to the user in the form of a vapor. Frequently, these devices contain not only nicotine, but other chemicals in a non-combustible form which is then inhaled into the body of the user. “E-cigarettes” are offered in a variety of flavors having direct appeal to minors. While research into the nature of these products and their effects on the human body are ongoing, current opinion from experts such as the Food and Drug Administration expresses serious concern over the unproven safety claims of these products. Additionally, these devices may portend the use of more harmful products. By amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses,) § 6305 relating to the sale of tobacco products to minors, with the addition of language to include “e-cigarettes,” we can extend the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products to minors to “e-cigarettes” and related products. Protecting the youth of this Commonwealth is always a top priority. When a potentially unsafe product targets our young people, it is imperative that we move forward to extend our laws in order to put an end to such practices. Making “e-cigarettes” and similar products unavailable for sale to this demographic is imperative to the health and well-being of the youth of Pennsylvania. I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2312