St. Louis County Board Bans E-Cigarettes in Public Places

Banned in Public Places, Retail Environments and Work Places

Another step has been taken to end the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places. 

The vote by the St. Louis County Board was 5-2. 

Numerous doctors and health advocates urged the board to pass the ordinance to protect indoor air quality.

Speakers said that allowing e-cigs indoors normalizes a behavior that many have worked to de-normalize.

This prohibition applies to anywhere smoking is banned under the Minnesota Clean Indoor Act. 

Duluth, Hermantown and Ely already have similar ordinances in place, and together they have 99,000 residents following these rules.

The ordinance takes effect July 1.

St. Louis County is the 8th county in Minnesota to pass the ordinance.