An organisation known as CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association) was formed to oppose this ban and request the city council to remove e-cigarettes from this restriction. CASAA reported that the city council of Alameda was considering banning electronic cigarettes as of November 1. CASAA then approached the city council and urged them to reconsider their decision after gathering members from the public to voice their opinions.
After repeated efforts from e cigarette users, local merchants and CASAA, e-cigarettes were officially taken out of the ordinance. The Alameda City Council officially declared a unanimous vote on the approval of the smoking ban that no longer impacted electronic cigarettes. The City Council openly declared the exemption of electronic cigarettes from the smoking ban on November 15.
CASAA is overjoyed as the comparatively safer e-cigarettes do not face restrictions. Advisor of CASAA Bill Godshall recently said online that the decision of the city council to remove e-cigarettes from the ordinance was important as several bodies are needlessly opposing the use electronic cigarettes as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
Godshall also wrote that non supporters of electronic cigarettes can now reassess their tactics and stop pinning inaccurate tags to electronic cigarettes. Most health bodies still consider vaping to be another form of smoking and often claim it to be harmful without adequate proof.
This change in the ordinance could also have an impact on smoke free ordinances that are in progress in other parts of the country. Godshall hopes that health boards that are trying to get e-cigs banned reconsider their actions and assess the benefits of the products as well.
