Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware) signed legislation Thursday banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors in the First State.
Supporters of the law, including local physicians and legislators from both parties, joined Markell at a ceremony at Legislative Hall in Dover.
The e-cigarette law passed both houses of the General Assembly relatively easily, something Markell praised in a time when partisan gridlock is often the norm.
"It is worth taking note particularly with all of the dysfunction in Washington, that standing behind me is a group of Democrats and Republicans," said Markell. "You identify a problem, you identify something that is a threat to our kids, and you act on it.
The General Assembly is considering another bill that would further regulate e-cigarettes by including them in the state’s indoor smoking ban. That legislation has cleared the House and now sits in the Senate Executive Committee.
Senate president pro tem Patricia Blevins (D-Elsmere) says she is unsure if it will pass before the end of the legislative session on June 30th.
"I saw these as very different efforts, they’re on very different sides of the issue," said Blevins. "I don’t know what’s going to happen with the other bill and whether it’s ready for passage yet, but this bill banning e-cigarettes from minors’ consumption, there was just universal support for that."
Opponents of the indoor smoking measure say there is not sufficient scientific understanding of the effects of secondhand vapor bystanders, calling the bill government overreach.
Sponsors of that bill and state health officials counter that Delaware shouldn’t wait decades for long-term studies that they think will show similar negative results like second hand smoke from tobacco.
