No E-Cig Ban, For Now

June 21, 2014

The Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Commission voted down a proposal this week to ban e-cigarettes at the Civic Center. Smoking traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products at the county park has been prohibited since 2010.

Concern over e-cigs was first brought to the commission's attention by Commissioner David Grams, who specifically cited their increased use at the Civic Center's skate park.

But in voting 5-4 against the ban, some commissioners raised concerns about enforcement of the ban and others expressed wanting to see what the state does with regard to banning sales of e-cigarettes to minors, or to classify them as tobacco products. Pending that action, the commission may take the issue up again at a later date.

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