Morris Twp Looks To Ban Underage Vaping

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Teenage vaping could soon be illegal in Morris Township, if an ordinance introduced into the town council passes.

The ordinance would ban the possession of tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and electronic tobacco devices, more commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes, by anyone under 21, the legal age to buy nicotine products.

Buying nicotine underage is currently illegal, but it is not illegal to possess tobacco if you are underage, township officials said at the Jan. 16 meeting. Morris Township Mayor Jeffrey Grayzel called the proposal "groundbreaking legislation."

"We are going to try to lead the way in the state of New Jersey to take hold of the epidemic that's gripped schools around the country, but also in our community. Police brought this to our attention, we have recourse officers in our schools, and this will give them some enforcement tools to deal with this problem," Grayzel said.

Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said that police would take more of an intervention approach than a punishment approach to enforcing the ordinance, and that police would likely contact a teen's parents as the first step.

"If it's the second or third offense, then they could ratchet up, where they would have to go before a juvenile conference committed, or before probation, and if it becomes habitual, it's not until then they'd have to appear before juvenile court. It's more intervention as a first step," Quinn said.

Prescribed medical marijuana consumed with a vaporizer device would not fall under the law, officials said.

Vaping has skyrocketed in popularity with teenagers in recent years, with 16 percent of all high school seniors saying they vape. Vaping increases the chance of turning to traditional cigarettes: 30 percent of teens who vape will start smoking cigarettes within six months, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says.

About two-thirds of teens who vape think their vapes are full of just flavoring; While there are nicotine free vapes, most tend to contain more nicotine than traditional cigarettes. One Juul pod, the most popular type of vape, contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine. They can also be used to vape marijuana.

The Morris Township council will vote on adopting the ordinance at the Feb. 20 meeting.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - JUNE 30: Different types of electronic cigarette pipes are displayed at a mall on June 30, 2013 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images)