A bill to ban ‘vaping’, the use of electronic cigarettes, in public places in Prince George’s County is moving through the county council.  As reported in The Washington Post:

Council member Todd Turner (D-Bowie) sponsored the bill that would regulate the distribution and sale of the nicotine vaporizing devices while restricting “vaping” in most restaurants, bars, public and senior citizen housing.

If it passes later this year, Prince George’s will become the fourth jurisdiction in Maryland to issue a ban, following Baltimore City and Howard and Montgomery counties. The federal government is considering rules for the billion-dollar industry. While e-cigarettes do not pose the same health risks as traditional cigarettes, it is still unclear if they are completely safe.

“Let’s not wait if something happens in the future but let’s be proactive,” Turner said during the hearing Thursday. “The desire of the bill was in essence to put e-cigarettes in the same category of restriction as other tobacco products.”

The article notes an amendment proposed by Council member Derrick L. Davis would exempt businesses with state video lottery licenses. The bill will be voted on by the full council in the next couple of weeks.

For more information read the full article in The Washington Post.