Tomorrow, July 1, a number of new legal restrictions on e-cigarette sales and use in Minnesota will take effect. E-cigarette use will be prohibited in schools, and the products will need to be kept behind the counter in stores. Those who sell e-cigarettes to minors will be penalized. Beginning tomorrow, e-cigarette use will also be prohibited in the following public places:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Most government-operated buildings (including correctional facilities)
• All University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities buildings (including dorms)
• Daycares

Other restrictions on e-cigarette sales will be enacted in the near future.

The Freedom to Breathe coalition, a group of health organizations working to keep Minnesota’s smoke-free law strong, has released a statement on the restrictions.

Statement: New e-cigarette restrictions take effect July 1

Following the roll-out of new service options in March, QUITPLAN Services, our free program providing science-based quitting help to Minnesota smokers, saw a huge increase in volumes. In the three months following the launch, more than 5,400 Minnesotans received help through the program. That’s nearly as many individuals as used QUITPLAN Services in all of 2013.

Press release

On May 21, our Board of Directors approved five new research grants, which will fund studies on topics including cessation among African American smokers, various smoke-free policies and secondhand smoke exposure among children.

News release

Yesterday the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill containing provisions to restrict e-cigarette sales and use and to make Minnesota foster homes smoke-free. The following are statements related to this passage.

Freedom to Breathe coalition statement on e-cigarette bill provisions

ClearWay Minnesota statement on smoke-free foster care provision