El Paso City Council holds special meeting to discuss regulation of electronic cigarettes

El Paso City Council held a special meeting Monday morning to discuss the regulation of electronic cigarettes also known as e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are battery operated cigarettes that turn chemicals and nicotine into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.

City council members are considering passing smoking ordinances that will regulate where users can light up e-cigarettes and and where businesses can operate.

Currently in El Paso, there are no restrictions for users and smokers are typically seen smoking inside public places.

City health department officials said regulating the use of e-cigarettes would bring the El Paso up to par with other cities across the county that have already passed ordinances.
E-cigarettes could be treated exactly the same as tobacco.

In 2002, El Paso passed an ordinance that prohibited smoking in public places including the workplace, restaurants and bars.attery operated cigarettes that turn chemicals and nicotine into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.