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Portland Considers Ban on Public Vaping

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine's largest city is considering a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places.

The Portland City Council will hold a Monday night meeting in which it considers placing e-cigarettes and other devices that allow the user to inhale vapors on its list of tobacco products that are banned in public areas.

The city's Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee unanimously supported the ban last month.

Dozens of cities and towns have placed restrictions on e-cigarettes and vaping in public. The World Health Organization issued a report that calls for restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes indoors. The report states that some public health experts say e-cigarettes can be an effective pathway to reduced tobacco smoking. Others feel the products could undermine efforts to discourage tobacco use.