The ease with which young people can buy electronic cigarettes is firing up the Saskatchewan Medical Association.
Association president, Dr. Mark Brown, says there are no Saskatchewan regulations around buying e-cigarettes, even though the products contain nicotine.
"And so there would be nothing to stop your five-year-old child from walking into a store and purchasing e-cigarettes," said Brown.
The doctor says he's concerned that products, such as flavoured tobacco and e-cigarettes, could appeal to young people who may become addicted and start using other tobacco products.
The association is calling for legislation around e-cigarettes and a ban on all flavoured tobacco to discourage smoking among youth.
Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan said last month that there are no imminent plans to change provincial smoking laws to cover electronic cigarettes.
Duncan said the issue should be approached with caution because using e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, could possibly be used to help people stop smoking.
The health minister cited a report last August by Public Health England, which says almost all of 2.6 million adults using e-cigarettes in Great Britain are current or ex-smokers. The report said most of the ex-smokers are using the devices to help them quit smoking, or to prevent them from going back to cigarettes.
Brown says he's heard that argument and is "respectful" of it.
"That's why we're not calling for a ban on them. We're just calling for regulation around them because nicotine is still addictive," said Brown.
"And secondly, there is research now emerging that is showing harmful effects of vaping and e-cigarettes. So if you think that it's just a way of getting nicotine replacement therapy and that there are no harmful effects, then you're wrong."
Brown says recent research out of the Harvard Medical School shows that one of the chemicals used in electronic cigarettes can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung."
That is basically "damaging the lung," he said.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are the only provinces that have not banned the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, according to the Non-Smokers Rights Association. Alberta leaves the decision to municipalities.
Brown says he hopes this call generates talk as political leaders debate health issues during the Saskatchewan election campaign.
-- By Jennifer Graham in Regina
