San Francisco is now first major US city to ban sale of e-cigarettes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP/KTVU) - San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed a unanimous vote to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, making it the first major U.S. city to do so. 

Backers say they hope the legislation will curb underage use of e-cigarettes, but critics say the ban will make it harder for adults to purchase an alternative to regular cigarettes.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera issued a statement after the vote saying, "San Francisco is taking action to protect our kids." 

San Francisco is a city that celebrates its marijuana culture, but it appears deeply opposed to other vices. Last year, voters approved a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and in 2016, a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks.

E-cigarette maker Juul Labs, which is based in San Francisco, says it is opposed to youth vaping, but the ban will leave regular cigarettes as the only option for adult smokers. 

The company is working on a ballot initiative that would regulate but not ban e-cigarette sales.

The new legislation suspends the sale of e-cigarettes that have not undergone required FDA review.

The ban could be lifted, pending a federal assessment of the health risks of vaping.