By Miriam Raftery

March 15, 2014 (El Cajon) – By a 4-1 vote, El Cajon’s City Council voted to add electronic cigarettes to the city’s tobacco ordinance.  The measure will also regulate hookahs.  Only Mayor Bill Wells voted against the measure, calling it “government overreach.”

The proposed regulations will next go before the city’s planning commission, after which the Council will hold a public hearing.

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2014 (El Cajon ) – After hearing testimony raising concerns over use of e-ciagrettes by children in public schools, El Cajon’s City Council unanimously asked staff to prepare a report on the hazards of  inhaling or “vaping” nicotine, along with options for regulation both e-cigarettes and hookah smoking.

Councilman Gary Kendrick introduced the issue, stating  that a friend told him her middle school son said that “use of electronic cigarettes was rampant at his junior high.” 

A representative from Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) asked Council, “Can we really afford another generation of nicotine addiction?”  The CASA representative said that “nicotine is more addictive than heroin.” He presented evidence that manufacturers of e-cigarettes with nicotine are targeting minors with flavors such as bubblegum and designs ranging from e-cigarettes with cartoon characters to models that masquerade as asthma inhalers, felt pens, or other common devices.