HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 14- ECigarette Legislation
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 • kcaron@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edina E-Cigarette Ordinance Follows Freedom to Breathe Act
Edina, Minn., Aug. 14, 2014 – At the Aug. 4 Edina City Council meeting, the Council approved an ordinance
to include electronic nicotine delivery devices (e-cigarettes) under the same regulation that cigarettes are
subject to under the Freedom to Breathe Act. The ordinance also includes electronic delivery devices in the
definition of tobacco-related devices, requiring any business selling these items to hold a City tobacco license.
Edina Community Health Administrator Jeff Brown explained that a major concern relates to subjecting non-
smokers to e-cigarettes. “Its’ so unregulated, I think that’s the uncertainty and the caution,” said Brown.
Under the new ordinance, e-cigarettes cannot be used in bars and restaurants; offices or workplaces; retail
stores; common areas of rental apartments; buildings, hotels and motels; public transportation; work vehicles, if
more than one person is present; home offices with one or more employees onsite; educational facilities;
auditoriums, arenas and meeting rooms; daycares or healthcare facilities. It does not prohibit smoking outdoors,
except in City parks, regardless of distance from a building.
Although the Freedom to Breathe Act is a state-wide act, this ordinance only applies to Edina. However, Edina
is not alone in this sort of legislation. “Many other cities have done this exact thing and they just add e-
cigarettes in [to the Freedom to Breathe Act regulation],” Brown said.
Any enforcement of this ordinance is done on a complaint basis. The Community Health Commission and
Minnesota Department of Health recommend that employers make efforts to prevent indoor smoking by
posting “No Smoking” signs, refraining from providing ashtrays and other smoking equipment or refusing to
serve noncompliant customers.
For more information contact Brown at 952-826-0466 or jbrown@EdinaMN.gov.
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