The editorial claimed that, “Though e-cigarettes account for less than 2 percent of tobacco sales, they now account for more than 40 percent of poison-center calls.” What it failed to mention was that was 40 percent of tobacco-related calls. The real question that should be asked is how many serious injuries or deaths occurred in Minnesota last year from e-liquid. The answer is zero.

“Last week the Minnesota House dropped a measure to incorporate e-cigarettes into the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act,” read the editorial. This actually happened over a month ago. I spoke in front of the committee.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton stated in the Star Tribune that he thinks banning the use of e-cigs indoors is going too far. The added bonus of politely

vaping indoors is a very attractive reason to quit smoking.

“Until we know just what’s being ‘vaped’ when those willing to take the risk use e-cigarettes, keeping the vapor and products away from the public, and especially kids, has to be seen as logical,” the editorial said.

The editorial opened with poisoning risks but didn’t share how to help with this. While I agree e-cigs should not be sold to minors, there is absolutely no regulation proposed to prevent poisoning in the household. We should be focusing our time on these more important issues, instead of what-ifs.

“Researchers have found metal and silicate particles along with the nicotine in e-cigarettes. Are they at levels so low as not to be dangerous?” The fact this question was raised in the editorial either means no research was done on e-cigs before its writing or the science was ignored. No science to date has shown levels of carcinogens being produced from an e-cig above workplace standards. Even the 2009 Food and Drug Administration study done on faulty Chinese e-cigs that no longer exist failed to show levels harmful to bystanders.

“Far more effective and proven cessation methods are out there,” the editorial claimed. I ask readers to question a smoker about proven cessation methods and how effective they are, really.

“E-cigarettes, as addictive, dangerous and harmful to health as they may be, are actively being marketed to kids, just the way tobacco cigarettes used to be,” read the editorial. There we are with the children again. So, I dare ask, how much legislation in Minnesota has been introduced to stop marketing to children? The answer, again, is zero. And don’t get me started on adults not liking flavors.

In short, I think Duluth reacted poorly by making laws limiting e-cigarette use based on opinions, including that it “looks like smoking.” For those who have been scared away from a far safer alternative to smoking, I apologize. You may just die from being scared away from something that is saving millions of lives.

Alex Carlson of Bemidji, Minn., is the creator of a YouTube news show that advocates for e-cigarettes and is a member of the grass-roots Minnesota Vapers Advocacy organization.