On Monday the Senate passed SB 1, the bill that would ban smoking inside businesses. While supporters consider the health-conscious legislation simply a request for people to take their smokes outside, vaping and marijuana advocates are coming out against sections of the proposal.
Local vape store owner Steve Mapes says Senate bill 1 unfairly lumps vaping in with the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products.
Mapes: “Vapor is not smoke. I am not a fan of tobacco at all, both of my parents died of lung cancer, it’s ugly. I think that people should have a safer alternative to tobacco.”
He says the terminology banning vaping inside businesses should be struck from the legislation because it would be detrimental to the mom and pop vape stores around the state.
While vaping may be considered a safer alternative to traditional cigarette usage, State of Alaska agencies have recently expressed concern over the lack of research.
Marijuana advocates are also concerned that SB 1 has terminology that will hurt Alaska’s newest industry, such as eliminating the potential for smoking in proposed cannabis cafes.
The Marijuana Control Board approved regulations to allow onsite consumption of marijuana in authorized retail stores but are still working on the specific regulations for those.
Director Cynthia Franklin of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Offices says the bill could potentially have negative impacts for those types of establishments if an exemption in SB 1 is not included.
SB 1 is currently being reviewed by the House.