Mankato Bans E-Cigs in Most Indoor Places

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - The Mankato City Council has voted to ban electronic cigarettes in most indoor places in town.

The council approved the ban 6-1 Monday night. The ordinance takes effect in just over a month.

Reports say a dozen residents asked the council to treat e-cigarettes the same way as traditional cigarettes and cigars.

E-cigarettes use a smoke-free process to deliver vaporized nicotine to users. Opponents claim the devices, which comes in flavors such as bubble gum or cotton candy, are aimed a young people and may prove dangerous to people who breathe in secondhand vapor.

Others argued the ban would infringe on personal freedom and that there's no proof e-cigarettes are dangerous.

The ban will take effect 30 days after the city publishes the new ordinance.