Representatives of the fast-growing vaping industry are promoting themselves as partners in the effort to reduce tobacco use, not as a public health scourge.
Industry officials held a Capitol news conference Tuesday urging California Gov. Jerry Brown to veto a bill that would subject vaping products to the same restrictions as cigarettes.
The bill is one of six anti-smoking bills awaiting action by the Democratic governor. Brown has not said whether he'll sign them.
Josh Krane, owner of Craft Vapery in Torrance, says e-cigarettes were the only way for him and many of his customers to quit smoking.
Proponents of the bill say vapor products are enticing to teenagers and threaten to get more young people addicted to nicotine.