Shops selling electronic cigarettes will soon need a permit to operate in the city of Buffalo.
Tuesday's Common Council meeting featured little fanfare as members approved new regulations on e-cigarettes.
The South District's Christopher Scanlon says the e-cigarette market is relatively new so the stores don't have restrictions like other businesses.
"Food stores that are looking to sell shaving cream, toilet paper, things of that nature, are required to navigate the city's permits and inspections department," Scanlon said.
Scanlon says e-cigarette stores are literally popping up overnight and oversaturating some city neighborhoods. He's concerned that the Food and Drug Administration is not regulating the juice used for vaping.
"Through discussions with the health department we've come to realize how dangerous that can be. They're mixing up to combine these flavors and it can be quite harmful," Scanlon said.
"I don't know much about it - but I'm willing to bet the majority of these proprietors are not chemists."
Along with regulating e-cigarette retailers Council President Darius Pridgen says the city will be adding the use e-cigarettes or vaping to its indoor smoking ban.