Vancouver city council to consider regulations on sale of vape products, ads
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:50:10 +0000
A motion being put forward to Vancouver city council on Tuesday will look at regulations on the sale and advertisement of vaping and vape-related products.
Currently, the city of Vancouver does not impose restrictions on where vape retail shops can be located in the same way that it does with liquor stores or cannabis shops. There is also no license category for retailers selling vape products.
The motion, which is being put forward by NPA Couns. Rebecca Bligh and Lisa Dominato, will direct staff to find out how the city might be able to limit the locations of where vape retailers can set up in relation to schools and other youth facilities. The motion also asks city staff to determine what steps the city can take in banning ads on city property or transit shelters and benches.
“For the first time in 35 years we see an increase in the number of youth smoking,” said Bligh in a statement.
“We have a responsibility to protect the younger generation as best we can by limiting the advertising in and around public transit, banning flavoured vapes such as cotton candy and others that entice young people, and limiting the broad accessibility and availability of vapes across the city.”
The motion also asks the mayor to send a letter on behalf of city council to provincial and federal politicians to voice support for vaping education and regulations.
The motion is being brought forward at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Most recently, the B.C. School Trustees Association approved its own motion that would see the association urge federal and provincial governments for more funding for vape education and cessation for students. The motion came amid reports that school staff were spending an increased amount of time policing vaping among students.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix has also vowed to crack down on vendors who sell e-cigarettes and other vaping products. Dix estimates there are tens of thousands of vendors in the province that are currently unregulated.