An Act To Enact Restrictions on Electronic Smoking Devices and New Tobacco Products
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2052
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MILLETT, HYMANSON, CARPENTER, CYRWAY, GRATWICK, CRAVEN, MEYER, TALBOT ROSS
Amends: 22 MRSA §1551, 22 MRSA §1553-B, 22 MRSA §1560-B, 22 MRSA §2422, 22 MRSA §2430-I, 28-B MRSA §102, 28-B MRSA §504, 36 MRSA §4401

Legislative Document
No. 2052
S.P. 725
In Senate, January 16, 2020
An Act To Enact Restrictions on Electronic Smoking Devices and 
New Tobacco Products
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative HYMANSON of York and
Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, CYRWAY of Kennebec, GRATWICK of Penobscot, 
SANBORN, L. of Cumberland, Representatives: CRAVEN of Lewiston, MEYER of Eliot, 
TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 249 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 249
ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES AND NEW TOBACCO PRODUCTS
SUBCHAPTER 1
ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES
§791.  Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings.
1.  Electronic smoking device.  "Electronic smoking device" has the same meaning 
as in section 1541, subsection 1-A.
2.  Nicotine liquid.  "Nicotine liquid" means a liquid, gel or other substance 
containing nicotine that is sold, marketed or intended for use with an electronic smoking 
device.
§792.  Electronic smoking devices and nicotine liquid prohibited
1.  Prohibition.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, except as 
provided in section 793, 794 or 795, a person may not sell, furnish, give away or offer to 
sell, furnish or give away an electronic smoking device or nicotine liquid.
2.  Penalty.  The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 1.
A.  A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of 
$500 may be adjudged.
B.  A person who violates subsection 1 after having previously violated subsection 1 
commits a civil violation for which a fine of $1,000 may be adjudged.
C.  A person who violates subsection 1 after having previously violated subsection 1 
more than once commits a civil violation for which a fine of $5,000 may be adjudged.
§793.  Sales of electronic smoking devices and nicotine liquid by tobacco retailers
1.  Retail sales.  A person authorized to sell tobacco products pursuant to chapter 
262-A may sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away electronic 
smoking devices and nicotine liquid only after the department adopts rules in accordance 
with subsection 2 and only in accordance with those rules.
2.  Rulemaking required.  The department shall adopt rules governing selling, 
furnishing or giving away or offering to sell, furnish or give away electronic smoking 
devices and nicotine liquid when all of the following events have occurred:
A.  The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug 
Administration approves the use of electronic smoking devices as an evidence-based 
tobacco cessation strategy;
B.  The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug 
Administration promulgates regulations to promote public safety relating to the 
manufacture, testing, sale and use of electronic smoking devices; and
C.  The federal Secretary of Health and Human Services issues an order in 
accordance with 21 United States Code, Section 387j that authorizes electronic 
smoking devices to be introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate 
commerce.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
§794.  Sales of electronic smoking devices under the Maine Medical Use of 
Marijuana Act
Nothing in this subchapter limits a registered dispensary, as defined in section 2422, 
subsection 6, from selling, furnishing, giving away or offering to sell, furnish or give 
away electronic smoking devices as part of and in accordance with the registered 
dispensary's authorized activities under chapter 558-C.
§795.  Sales of electronic smoking devices under the Marijuana Legalization Act
1.  Retail sales.  A marijuana store, as defined in Title 28-B, section 102, subsection 
34, may sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away electronic smoking 
devices only after the Department of Administrative and Financial Services adopts rules 
in accordance with subsection 2 and only in accordance with those rules.
2.  Rulemaking required.  The Department of Administrative and Financial Services 
shall adopt rules governing the sale of electronic smoking devices when the federal 
Secretary of Health and Human Services issues an order in accordance with 21 United 
States Code, Section 387j that authorizes electronic smoking devices to be introduced or 
delivered for introduction into interstate commerce.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUBCHAPTER 2
NEW TOBACCO PRODUCTS
§796.  Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings.
1.  New tobacco product. "New tobacco product" means any tobacco product 
determined by rule by the department to be new.  In adopting rules defining "new tobacco 
product," the department shall ensure the definition includes any new tobacco product 
governed by 21 United States Code, Section 387j, other than products governed by 
subchapter 1.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
§797.  New tobacco products prohibited
1.  Prohibition.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, except as 
provided in section 798, a person may not sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish 
or give away a new tobacco product.
2.  Penalty.  The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 1.
A.  A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of 
$500 may be adjudged.
B.  A person who violates subsection 1 after having previously violated subsection 1 
commits a civil violation for which a fine of $1,000 may be adjudged.
C.  A person who violates subsection 1 after having previously violated subsection 1 
more than once commits a civil violation for which a fine of $5,000 may be adjudged.
§798.  Sales of new tobacco products by tobacco retailers
1.  Retail sales.  A person authorized to sell tobacco products pursuant to chapter 
262-A may sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away new tobacco 
products only after the adoption of rules in subsection 2 and only in accordance with the 
rules adopted under subsection 2.
2.  Rulemaking required.  The department shall adopt rules governing the sale of a 
new tobacco product when the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services issues an 
order in accordance with 21 United States Code, Section 387j that authorizes the new 
tobacco product to be introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §1551, sub-§1-E is enacted to read:
1-E.  Nicotine liquid.  "Nicotine liquid" has the same meaning as in section 791, 
subsection 2.
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §1553-B is enacted to read:
§1553-B.  Electronic smoking devices
A person may not sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away an 
electronic smoking device or nicotine liquid except as permitted under chapter 249, 
subchapter 1.
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §1560-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 288, §1, is 
amended to read:
2.  Prohibition.  Beginning January 1, 2016, a A person may not sell, furnish, give 
away or offer to sell, furnish or give away a nicotine liquid container unless the container 
is child-resistant packaging.  Selling, furnishing, giving away and offering to sell, furnish 
or give away nicotine liquid is governed by chapter 249, subchapter 1.
Sec. 5.  22 MRSA §2422, sub-§3-D is enacted to read:
3-D.  Electronic smoking device.  "Electronic smoking device" has the same 
meaning as in section 1541, subsection 1-A.
Sec. 6.  22 MRSA §2430-I is enacted to read:
§2430-I.  Electronic smoking devices
A person may not sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away an 
electronic smoking device except as permitted under chapter 249, subchapter 1.
Sec. 7.  28-B MRSA §102, sub-§16-A is enacted to read:
16-A.  Electronic smoking device.  "Electronic smoking device" has the same 
meaning as in section 1541, subsection 1-A.
Sec. 8.  28-B MRSA §504, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 409, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read:
C.  Sell adult use marijuana, adult use marijuana products or marijuana plants using:
(1)  An automated dispensing or vending machine;
(2)  A drive-through sales window;
(3)  An Internet-based sales platform; or
(4)  A delivery service; or
Sec. 9.  28-B MRSA §504, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 409, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended to read:
D.  Sell adult use marijuana or adult use marijuana products to a person who is 
visibly intoxicated.; or
Sec. 10.  28-B MRSA §504, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  Sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away an electronic 
smoking device except as permitted in Title 22, chapter 249, subchapter 1.
Sec. 11.  36 MRSA §4401, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2019, c. 530, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by §7, is further amended to read:
9.  Tobacco products.  "Tobacco products" means cigars; cheroots; stogies; 
electronic smoking devices and liquids used in electronic smoking devices, whether or 
not they contain nicotine, sold in accordance with Title 22, chapter 249; periques, 
granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed and other smoking tobacco; snuff; snuff 
flour; snus; cavendish; plug and twist tobacco; finecut and other chewing tobaccos; 
shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco; and other kinds and 
forms of tobacco, prepared in such manner as to be intended for human consumption or is 
likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled or 
ingested by any other means. "Tobacco products" does not include:
A.  Products that are subject to the tax provided by chapter 703;
B.  Drugs, devices or combination products authorized for sale by the United States 
Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, as those 
terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;
C.  Any product that contains adult use marijuana subject to tax under Title 28-B, 
section 1001; or
D.  Any product that contains marijuana or marijuana products subject to control 
under Title 22, chapter 558-C.
SUMMARY
This bill accomplishes the following.  It:
1.  Generally prohibits selling, furnishing, giving away or offering to sell, furnish or 
give away electronic smoking devices and nicotine liquid;
2.  Allows a registered dispensary under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act to 
continue to sell electronic smoking devices as part of its authorized activity as a 
dispensary;
3.  Allows tobacco retailers to sell electronic smoking devices and nicotine liquid 
after the Department of Health and Human Services has adopted governing rules.  These 
rules are permitted only after the United States Department of Health and Human 
Services, Food and Drug Administration approves the use of electronic smoking devices 
as an evidence-based tobacco cessation strategy and promulgates regulations relating to 
the manufacture, testing, sale and use of the devices and the federal Secretary of Health 
and Human Services issues an order authorizing the devices to be introduced or delivered 
for introduction into interstate commerce;
4.  Allows marijuana stores to sell electronic smoking devices after the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services adopts rules governing the sale of the devices by a 
marijuana store.  The rules may be adopted only after the federal Secretary of Health and 
Human Services issues an order authorizing the devices to be introduced or delivered for 
introduction into interstate commerce; and
5.  Prohibits the sale of other new tobacco products until the Department of Health 
and Human Services adopts rules governing their sale.  The rules governing a new 
tobacco product may be adopted only after the federal Secretary of Health and Human 
Services issues an order authorizing the new product to be introduced or delivered for 
introduction into interstate commerce.