You wonβt be allowed to smoke e-cigarettes in Carlsbad businesses or restaurants anymore.
Tuesday night, the Carlsbad City Council voted to ban electronic cigarettes wherever smoking is prohibited.
βItβs not a ban on the product, but it will protect the public health from whatβs essentially an unknown and unregulated product,β said Lorenzo Higley, chairperson of the San Diego Tobacco Control Coalition.
E-cigarettes donβt contain tobacco. Instead, users inhale vaporized liquid that usually contains nicotine.
The proposal cited a 2009 Food and Drug Administration analysis that found the inhaled substance contains carcinogens. However, it also points out, βThe possible health effects of bystanders breathing or absorbing these vapors [are] unknown.β
E-cigarette business owners say vaping can actually help people quit smoking.
Carlsbad is the second city in San Diego County to ban e-cigarettes. Vista passed a similar measure last October.
The ban takes effect in 30 days.