PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council passed an ordinance to ban e-cigarettes in public places Monday night.
The council voted 7-1 to ban electronic cigarettes in public places, which means the same laws that apply to other tobacco products will apply to smoking any type of electronic nicotine delivery systems, like e-cigarettes and vaporizers.
Several people on both sides of the spectrum spoke out at Monday night’s meeting. Opponents say e-cigarettes are a tool to help smokers quit smoking and they don’t pose public safety risks and shouldn’t be banned. But those in support of the ban say seeing people smoking them sends the wrong message to teens.
Portland is the 275th city or county in the country to make an e–cigarette ban. It takes effect in 30 days.