HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1091.171 2012-2014Murashige, Laura
From: Rebecca Williams <rjwillia@hawaii.edu>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 1:28 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
To: County Council Chair DruKanuha and Hawai'i County Council Members
Re: Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
Hrg: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 9:00 am at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Bill 302. 1 strongly support prohibiting the use of
Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD), also known as electronic cigarettes or e -cigarettes, in places open to the public and
places of employment.
I support including "electronic smoking devices" in the definition of "tobacco product" and "smoke or smoking" in the
County of Hawai'i, and to prohibit the use of ESD in the places where smoking is prohibited. Including ESD will protect
the public, reduce confusion within society, decrease distractions in the workplace, and maintain the social norm.
Recent news coverage of the youth tobacco survey showed dramatic increase in youth using ESD in Hawaii. The social
norming around ESD and the claims that these products are harmless contribute to high youth rates.
ESD are currently unregulated and emit unregulated levels of chemicals into the air. Evidence is clear that electronic
smoking devices do not just emit harmless water vapor, but a harmful aerosol that contains nicotine, ultra -fine particles
and toxins known to cause cancer. I urge you to pass Bill 302 in order to provide protection for the public. Failing to act
may set us back decades.
Mahalo.
Rebecca Williams
736 Hawaii St
Honolulu, HI 96817