Gov.

Rick Snyder vetoes bills relating to e-cigarettes,' measures do not

go far enough, threaten public health
Nicotine-delivery devices should be treated like tobacco products
Friday, Jan. 16, 2015
LANSING, Mich. Gov. Rick Snyder today vetoed three bills relating to electronic cigarettes, saying
the measures do not go far enough to regulate the devices, which pose significant health risks.
House Bill 4997, Senate Bills 667 and 668 -- sponsored by state Rep. Rick Outman, former state
Sen. Glenn Anderson and state Sen. Rick Jones, respectively -- would have excluded alternative
nicotine products including e-cigarettes from the definition of tobacco products and prohibit them
from being regulated as tobacco products under Michigan law.
The devices resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes and share a common ingredient, which is the
highly addictive chemical nicotine that is derived from tobacco.
We need to make sure that e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing devices are regulated in the
best interest of public health, Snyder said. Its important that these devices be treated like tobacco
products and help people become aware of the dangers e-cigarettes pose.
The legislation would have gone against the position taken by 40 state attorneys general, including
Michigans Bill Schuette, who believe that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should regulate ecigarettes pursuant to its tobacco product authority.
Snyder, in his veto letter, said he believes the preferred way to ensure that e-cigarettes are
regulated in the interest of public health is to revise the existing definition of a tobacco product to
make clear that e-cigarettes -- and other novel nicotine-containing vapor products -- are tobacco
products subject to any restrictions generally applied to tobacco products under the Youth Tobacco
Act, including the minimum age law.
Medical community leaders said they support the governors actions.
The medical science is clear: E-cigarettes are dangerous and threaten the health of children, said
Dr. James D. Grant, president of the Michigan State Medical Society. This action ensures that the
state is putting the welfare of Michigan children and families first.
Jennifer Hunt, vice president of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer
Action Network, said the vetoes will work toward preventing a new generation from being addicted to
dangerous tobacco and nicotine products.

Special treatment for electronic cigarettes may hook a new generation of tobacco users, she said.
It is unclear why creation of a separate definition for vapor product is necessary. We believe that
Michigan can prohibit the sale of these products to minors without undermining existing tobaccocontrol laws.
The governor has now considered all bills presented from the 2013-2014 legislative session. For
more information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
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