Oregon lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would ban the sale of vaping products over the internet.
The idea is to keep so-called e-cigarettes out of the hands of people under 21. That’s the age limit to buy tobacco products in Oregon.
Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, said face-to-face sales are the most effective way of ensuring the purchaser’s age.
“No matter how much so-called proof is required to make a purchase online, remote sellers cannot adequately verify the age or identity of remote purchasers," she said. "They also cannot verify that the products are being delivered to people who are old enough to legally use them.”
Oregon law already bans remote sales of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Online sales of pipe tobacco and cigars would still be legal under the bill.
House Bill 2261 easily passed both the House and the Senate and is now headed to the governor’s desk.
