Under a compromise bill passed by the Oklahoma House, sales of electronic cigarettes or similar vapor products to those under 18 would be banned. Representative Doug Cox of Grove is a doctor. He says he does recommend e-cigs as a way for people to reduce tobacco usage and eventually quit smoking, however, he says to claim electronic cigarettes with nicotine are not tobacco products is like saying red salsa is not a tomato product.
The bill includes compromise language that would let the Food and Drug Administration determine whether e-cigs are tobacco products. That determination has tax and regulatory consequences.