Turtle Mountain Tribe to ban sale of e-cigs, vaping devices amid health concerns

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribe will ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, effective next week.

Tribal Chairman Jamie Azure says the tribal government passed the resolution last week.

The sales would be banned everywhere within the confines of the reservation.

Azure says he intends to sign the resolution Monday, making it law.

He says two separate groups—the youth council and the elder council—addressed concerns with the growing epidemic across the country of vaping-related illnesses.

“When you have two groups like an elder group and a youth group that come in with the same concerns but came in separately, those are two segments of our community that we hold at the highest regard. We just wanted to be proactive, and I've said from day one that this tribe is going to turn from being reactive to proactive, and this is just a small step moving in that direction,” said Azure.

Azure says the use of these devices will still be legal on the reservation.