School trustees will try to clear the air around e-cigarette issue: new policy would ban them

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — School trustees will try to clear the air around so-called e-cigarettes at a meeting May 12.

A notice of motion will be filed at tonight’s regular board meeting to bring up a possible amendment to policy that would add electronic smoking products to smoke-free areas.

That would include all district buildings, buses, vehicles and school grounds.

Any student caught selling e-cigarettes, as well as tobacco products, would be subject to “appropriate” discipline under the revised policy.

E-cigarettes consist of a stainless steel or plastic cylinder that includes a USB-charged battery, atomizer and liquid cartridge. The user holds down a button to vaporize the nicotine and inhale.

The issue of whether non-smoking regulations should include e-cigarettes is popping up across the country. Some researchers say second-hand e-cigarette vapour contains less nicotine than tobacco smoke.

Some stores, hotels and bars ban e-cigarettes while others have no rules on them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18.

They aren’t approved by Health Canada for sale or use in Canada because “the safety, efficacy and quality” are unknown. However, e-cigarettes that use cartridges that don’t contain nicotine and don’t claim any health benefits are legal.