New Form of Cigarette Banned at Trenton Public Schools

District officials recently updated Trenton Public School's policy banning tobacco products to include the use of electronic cigarettes, despite the fact that they do not contain tobacco.

Electronic cigarettes contain a mechanism that heats up liquid nicotine, which turns into a vapor that smokers inhale and exhale, according to Discovery Fit & Health.

The ban states:

The use and/or the possession by any student, regardless of age, of any tobacco product are prohibited in any school building, at school-sponsored events-regardless of location, or any school property at any time.

Possession of tobacco products by any student under the age of 18 years may be reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

The policy defines tobacco products as a preparation of tobacco to be inhaled, chewed, or placed on a person's mouth.

"Use" of tobacco product means any of the following, according to the policy:

1. The carrying by a person of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device;
2. The inhaling or chewing of a tobacco product; or
3. The placing of a tobacco product within a person's mouth; within a person's mouth; and/or
4. The smoking of electronic, "vapor" or other substitute forms of cigarette, clove cigarettes or other lighted smoking devices for burning tobacco or any other substance.

While the ban includes prohibiting nicotine under "any other substance," it is legal for people of any age to purchase and own electronic cigarettes in Michigan because they do not contain tobacco.

However, the Health Ministry report, published in December 2012, warned that electronic cigarettes should not be used by young people because there are still serious potential health risks, according to ABCNews.com.

Do you think electronic cigarettes should be banned at Trenton Public Schools? Tell us why in the comments.

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