New Law Bans E-Cigarette and Vapes in Most Indoor Workplaces and Public Places

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Starting Aug. 1, laws protecting Minnesotans from exposure to deadly secondhand smoke will expand to include the use of e-cigarettes and vapes.  

Under the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, the use of e-cigarettes and vapes (vaping) will be subject to the same prohibitions and restrictions as cigarette smoking, therefore banning e-cigarette and vape use in all restaurants, bars and almost all indoor workplaces and public places.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), e-cigarette aerosol – commonly called vape smoke – contains harmful chemicals, such as ultrafine particles, heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead, and other cancer-causing chemicals.

“This policy change is good news for current and future generations of Minnesotans,” said MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “By limiting the use of these products in public places, we protect people from exposure to harmful chemicals and send a message to kids and teens that e-cigarette use is not a healthy behavior.”