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Vaping ban put on the back burner...for now

According to media reports, the Ontario government will hold off on their plans to ban smoking electronic cigarettes in public places.
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Stories about e-cigarettes exploding in people’s faces are not uncommon. What is uncommon are news stories explaining why these explosions occur. File photo
According to media reports, the Ontario government will hold off on their plans to ban smoking electronic cigarettes in public places.

Vaping – or smoking an e-cigarette – was in the crosshairs and there was a plan in place to ban the activity in public spaces, starting Jan. 1, 2016.

That ban has been delayed for the time being, though the province is still moving forward on making the purchase of electronic cigarettes illegal for minors.

In Sudbury, shops like Juice on the Loose which sell electonic cigarettes and nearly everything associated with them are thankful that the ban has been delayed, as they would be included under the umbrella of public places where vaping is prohibited.

“We hope that this delay turns into more of a permanent thing,” said Arthur Cavallin, store manager at Juice on the Loose.

“I could see this (ban) being put in place for other public places, but I think having an exemption for vape shops is a huge thing. How can you expect someone to come in and buy a product without really being able to view it or try it out for themselves?”

Cavallin says that all vape shops would benefit from an exemption, but that other social places, like bars, should have the right to choose whether or not to allow vaping inside their establishment.

“I feel like it should really be up to the establishment whether or not they allow vaping inside,” said Cavallin. “For full exemption though I think the vape shops should have full exemption and other places should have the choice.”

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