The Boston Public Health Commission's Board of Health recently approved a proposal that requires retailers to have a permit to sell e-cigarettes. The proposed regulations—which are now in effect – also prohibit the use of e-cigs at work (including, but not limited to restaurant patios and decks, and loading docks) and restricts their sale to adults-only.

The new regulations require retailers to apply for a permit that allows them to sell nicotine products that aren’t approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a nicotine replacement therapy—the permit applications are available via the Boston Public Health Commission's Tobacco Control office.

In addition, the new regulations stipulate that e-cigas must can only be displayed behind the store counter, and that they cannot be sold to minors. 

Opponents to the proposal argued that the e-cig vapors are not harmful, but proponents said that e-cigarette’s have nicotine and a number of toxic chemicals and carcinogens in them, and stated that the safety of e-cig vapors has not been proven by the FDA.