American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:
Statement on Passage of Westchester County’s E-Cigarette Legislation
NEW YORK, NY – June 1, 2015 – The Westchester County Legislature has passed a measure that if signed into law will control the availability of e-cigarettes in the county. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) New York Metro Government Relations Director Michael Davoli released the following statement on the new law.
“ACS CAN applauds the Westchester County Legislature for passing this legislation that will control the usage of e-cigarettes in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, and other places that do not allow smoking. This will protect against second hand exposure to nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals found in these products. It will also help ensure that enforcement of existing smoke-free laws is not compromised, and that the public health benefits of smoke-free laws are not undermined. We urge County Executive Robert Astorino to sign this legislation into law.
“In the last year, there has been a significant increase in the sale of e-cigarettes nationally and usage among high school students nationally has doubled within a recent one-year period. ACS CAN is pleased that if the bill is signed into law, Westchester County residents will be added to those in New York City, Suffolk County, Cattaraugus County, Erie County and Tompkins County in New York State with such a public health law. This comprises 61 percent off all new Yorkers. We are hopeful that the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo pass and enact such a law to protect all New Yorkers.”
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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