Mike McCarville
Documents attempting to explain Governor Fallin’s executive order banning e-cigarettes on state property contain bizarre reasons for the ban.
OPINION
First, the documents claim their vapor is harmful but admit “much more research is needed” to make a determination.
Second, the documents assert it is necessary because they “look like traditional cigarettes.”
So the ban is based on little research and the way e-cigarettes look.
Here’s what the state document says:
Why can’t e-cigarettes and vapor products be used on state property? Isn’t the vapor just water vapor?
There are two primary concerns related to the use of vapor products outdoors on state property. First, these products are relatively new, and much more research is needed on the potential impact for users and bystanders. Research has shown that the vapor is notjust water vapor – ecigarettes and vapor products still release nicotine and toxic chemicals into the air. Citizens in Oklahoma have come to expect clean air in most places, and the use of ecigarettes and vapor products results in less clean air than currently experienced on state property.
The second concern is related to social norms and public perception of smoking prevalence. Many ecigarettes look like traditional cigarettes and emit a vapor that looks like traditional cigarette smoke. Research shows that teens that see tobacco use in their homes or public places in their community may come to see smoking as a normal part of adult behavior. Since many state agencies offer services to families and youth, it is important to maintain social norms that protect youth from exposure to tobacco use of any kind on state property or by state employees while providing services to Oklahomans.
Unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats making decisions based on questionable data to take away the freedoms of Americans; I thought that only happened in Washington D.C. when liberals were in power?
Actually this bullying with BS is happening all over the world.
Here in the EU the same crap is used as “arguments” for “regulations” of ecigs that would amount to an effective ban.
Surprisingly it was conservatives together with liberals and libertarians who opposed in october the left/green/socialist attempt to kill ecigs for the benefit of BigPharma, BigTobacco and BigTaxes.
Even worse.
When you look at the existing scientific evidence – and there already is a lot – you’ll see that this is totally unfounded propaganda and speculation that contradicts what’s known today.
People breathing also results in less clean air. Maybe they should also be banned from state property. And cars, and ovens, …
The conservative leadership of smaller, more effective, and more efficient seems to be either a) getting off track or b) revealing its true colors. The last few months have me very concerned. Whether its the “we don’t want Washington telling us how to educate our students” or “we have no concerns about prison staffing” or now the issue of banning e-cigarettes based on flimsy logic………..I can’t help but wonder who is steering the ship in the governor’s office. Are we Oklahoma the “reddest state in the union” as is so proudly claimed by the republican leaders? The words say one thing but the recent actions of the office of governor says something else.
[…] The McCarville Report – Documents attempting to explain Governor Fallin’s executive order banning e-cigarettes on state property contain bizarre reasons for the ban. […]
[…] The McCarville Report – Documents attempting to explain Governor Fallin’s executive order banning e-cigarettes on state property contain bizarre reasons for the ban. […]