California agency deems e-cigarettes a health threat that ‘renormalizes smoking’

California health officials have declared electronic cigarettes a hazard and called for more regulations to limit access to the product.

“Without action, it is likely that California’s more than two decades of progress to prevent and reduce traditional tobacco use will erode as e-cigarettes renormalizes smoking behavior,” said California Health Officer Ron Chapman, The Associated Press reported.

The agency says e-cigarettes emit cancer-causing chemicals and lead users down the path of nicotine addiction — though that claim isn’t based on science that takes a look at long-term effects, AP said.

E-cigarette makers, however, say their product is safer than tobacco.

“Despite the health officer’s false claims, there is ample evidence that vaping helps smokers quit and is far less hazardous than smoking,” said Gregory Conley the president of the e-cigarette advocacy group American Vaping Association, in the AP report.

California’s health officials have asked the state to restrict sales of e-cigarettes and to regulate the product’s marketing.