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Jails Selling E-Cigarettes to Inmates

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According to a February 17, 2015 story in the New York Times, electronic cigarettes are growing in popularity since their U. S introduction about a decade ago, and are showing up at jails in more than a dozen states, including Ohio, Illinois, South Carolina and Texas.

Although many jail officials claim the benefits of e-cigarettes outweigh any potential problems or health risks Managing editor of the Prison Legal News, Alex Friedmann, which advocates for inmate rights doesn’t see any justification for e-cigarette sales in prisons. Friedman states,“jails that allow these devices don’t do it for some altruistic reason but because they are making money off it.”

Under New Jersey state law, jails are required to be 100% smokefree including electronic smoking devices.

The full article can be found here.