West Virginia's American Lung Association Wants Vaping Banned In Public Spaces

In West Virginia, there’s at least one organization that wants vaping banned from public spaces, just like smoking. This organization, the American Lung Association of West Virginia, is fighting for vape-free public spaces. In other words, they don’t want you to vape in public spaces where smoking is already prohibited.

While the ALA has made their stance clear, there are plenty of folks that opposite it. Then there’s Shawn Dunn, owner of the E-Vapor vape shops located in Bridgeport and Fairmont, whose stance lays somewhere in between.

Dunn reportedly told local news outlet WDTV that he believes the smoking ban “should be left up to individual businesses and places to decide if they want to allow vaping or not,” which to those of us here at Vaporizer Wire, seems to make at least some sense. Still, there are those on the other side of the fence that seem to believe that it would be hypocritical to not regulate e-cigs under the same regulations as traditional cigarettes, even though the two clearly have their differences.

“I think it should be left up to individual businesses and places to decide if they want to allow vaping or not”

According to Dunn, he’s “very sure” that electronic cigarettes have “saved” his life. Before he picked up his first one about seven years ago, he was unable to quit smoking using the traditional methods.

“Seven years ago, I got my first electronic cigarette (…) I’m very sure that it has saved my life because I was unable to quit smoking the traditional ways.”

Public Health England, a function of the U.K. government, has endorsed the use of vaping as an alternative to smoking for their citizens. NHS Health Scotland has taken up a similar position in formally recommending vaporizers as a less harmful alternative to smoking for their citizens.

While scientists continue to debate whether vaping is truly a superior option to smoking and while the research into the matter continues, there are those who feel strongly that the answer is already clear – that vaping is most certainly less harmful than smoking. And while there are studies, a part of a growing body of evidence, to support this theory, a unanimous consensus on the matter between scientists and academics has yet to be reached.

What do you think about vaping? Is it healthier than smoking? Should it be banned in public areas like smoking? Share your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.