blu Cigs President Urges Utah Senate to Dismiss Ban

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Utah State House voted 42-31 last week in favor of HB245, which would amend Utah's Indoor Clean Air Act to include electronic cigarettes and hookah, blu Cigs, the company that sells electronic cigarettes online and through over 13,000 brick-and-mortar retail vendors, is speaking out against the move. According to Jason Healy, President of blu, the decision is irresponsible – lacking sufficient evidence and eliminating constituents' civil liberties.

Currently, the law only bans ignited tobacco products and does not include hookah and e-cigs – the latter of which emits a water-based vapor puff instead of smoke. According to a Deseret News Report, Rep. Bradley Last (R-Hurricane), the sponsor of the bill, admitted that, "there are some things we don't know necessarily," but went on to drive forward his proposed legislation. Other representatives also expressed doubts about the bill because of a lack of data regarding ill effects of either substance. The bill was forwarded to the Senate, regardless.

blu Cigs President, Jason Healy commented, "Utah law makers admit that they do not have all the facts about e-cigarettes, yet they continue to pursue this categorical ban of the product. My concern is that these actions show a lack of respect for the public because they eliminate consumers' freedom to make an informed choice, and overlook published research about the benefits of e-cigarettes."

Recent notable e-cig research includes a study co-authored by Dr. Michael Siegel of Boston University's School of Public Health, which determined that e-cigarettes have potential as a smoking cessation device.

Healy urges the Utah Senate to review the issue more thoroughly and inspect all available research before coming to a final decision on the amendment.  For more information on blu Cigs, visit www.blucigs.com or wiki.blucigs.com.

About blu Cigs
blu Cigs is the innovator of electronic cigarettes in the U.S., offering an alternative to smoking. blu's high-tech "e-cigs" look and feel just like traditional cigarettes – without the smoke, smell, tar and ash. blu Cigs are battery-operated – creating a smoke-free vapor "puff" that evaporates within seconds. blu Cigs are available in convenient disposables or rechargeable packs for continuous daily use, with or without nicotine and in a variety of flavors. blu Cigs have been featured in the presenter gift bags at the Grammy Awards and other celebrity events, and are used by a number of A-list actors, musicians, and athletes. Based in Charlotte, NC – at the heart of tobacco road – blu Cigs is the only e-cigarette provider whose ingestible contents are 100% made in the USA. For more, visit www.blucigs.com.

SOURCE blu Cigs