New law increases safety measures on e-cigarettes

SPRINGFIELD – A new public safety measure was signed into law Sunday that seeks to further protect children from the effects of nicotine.

The law, sponsored in the Senate by John G. Mulroe, D-10th, requires that electronic cigarettes must be sold behind the counter of convenience stores or in sealed display cases to keep them out of the curious hands of underage children.

“E-cigarettes contain nicotine, just like regular cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco,” said Mulroe. “These other products must be contained behind a counter or in a sealed case, so it stands to reason that electronic cigarettes should be contained in the same fashion.”

Mulroe is chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee. In 2013, he sponsored and passed a law that prohibited the sale of these alternative nicotine products to those under the age of 18.

The law signed yesterday requires electronic cigarettes to be displayed securely and in the same manner as cigarettes and other nicotine products.

“Nicotine has been proven to be a harmful and addictive substance,” Sen. Mulroe said. “We have banned children from purchasing it in all of its forms. This law just helps restrict their access to it.”

The new law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015.