A resolution to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products on county property was presented to the Washington County Board of Supervisors and they elected to take no action. The resolution was presented by the Washington County Board of Health. Had it been approved, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products would not been allowed in the same places where traditional tobacco cigarettes are prohibited under the Smoke Free Air Act. That was passed in 2008. Washington County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski presented the resolution to the board, “At that time, e-cigarettes were not really an issue. But we are seeing a significant uptick in e-cigarette, vaping, or JUULing as it’s often referred to, especially among our younger population. When these devices first came out they were seen as a cigarette replacement tool, so to help individuals with cessation. But actually what we’ve seen is that teenagers are using these e-cigarettes, and they’re using them for substances that have nicotine in them, substances that have THC in them, and they’re using them more frequently. And thus actually we’re seeing them then switch to tobacco and higher level products as they age.”

The Centers for Disease Control state that people who use such products are inhaling an aerosol that can contain harmful substances like nicotine, ultrafine particles, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals like nickel and lead, and volatile organic compounds.

A motion was made by Richard Young to table the resolution for further consideration, but it failed for lack of a second.