In Canada, the Government of Ontario under the leadership of the Premier Kathleen Wynne, put forward a regulation that could have a considerable impact on the ability of adult smokers to switch to e-cigarettes.
AN OBSTACLE TO REDUCING RISK FOR SMOKERS
When the new regulations come into force, normally on July 1, they will paradoxically erect obstacles to the main objective: that of making Ontario a “smoke-free” province.
Probably the most troubling point in this upcoming regulation is the ban on the use of e-cigarettes indoors, including in adult-only vape shops. This clearly doesn't make sense as users should be able to try the products properly. However, the ban on vaping in closed spaces will prevent adult smokers from trying e-cigarettes in specialty stores.
"We strongly regulate e-cigarettes but we authorize shooting rooms"
To some, this may not seem like a real problem, but in order to switch from smoking to vaping smokers clearly need a lot of information. In vape shops, employees need to be able to show people how to use the devices, and customers need to be able to experiment with different systems and e-liquids to find the right product. Without it, smokers will tend to give up and return to smoking.
The rationale for this ban is based on the idea that passive vaping is a nuisance, yet there is virtually no evidence to support this "certainty". On the contrary, there is now a lot of research that confirms the absence of risk regarding passive vaping.
"Other provinces have yet adopted more liberal approaches"
By putting e-cigarettes on the same level as tobacco, the Ontario government is basically ignoring all existing studies on the subject. A real contradiction when we know that this same government has fully supported and funded shooting rooms.
Other provinces, however, have taken more liberal approaches: In British Columbia, employees of vape shops can show customers how to use the equipment even if only two devices can be used at a time. Alberta and Saskatchewan have no legislation on e-cigarettes, so vaping is permitted in stores. The province of Manitoba allows vaping in specialty stores but not in places where smoking is prohibited.
Meanwhile, in Ontario, where politicians are openly considering allowing cannabis salons, the government is enacting hypocritical regulations that will make quitting smoking much more difficult for smokers.
Source : Cbc.ca/
