By Mina Kim and Lisa Pickoff-White
Update March 19: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Tuesday to treat electronic cigarettes as regular cigarettes, effectively banning them at bars, restaurants and businesses. Sellers will also have to secure a special permit, and e-cigarettes can't be sold at pharmacies and other businesses where tobacco sales are banned.
Original story: A committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors debated on Thursday afternoon (March 7) whether to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes to areas where smoking tobacco is allowed. Supporters and opponents packed the room.
"The VA Medical Center recommended I try e-cigarettes to stop smoking," Michael Barger said during public comments. "Within three weeks I stopped, and now this is my vaporizer."
Several other cities around the country already have restricted e-cigarettes, the battery-powered devices that heat up liquid nicotine so that the vapor can be inhaled. On Tuesday, Los Angeles City Council members placed "vaping" in the same category as tobacco smoking. Long Beach then passed a stricter ordinance, also banning shops and "vaping" lounges. Richmond passed a ban in December. Some states also are considering regulations, and a U.S. Senate bill introduced last month would curb electronic cigarette marketing while the fast-growing industry awaits regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.