Guest columnist Meaghan Earley is an associate at Euphoria Vapor, located in Middleburg Heights. She supports the use of e-cigarettes in public places and their use in helping smokers quit.

There is a constant debate regarding whether or not electronic cigarettes should be banned in public places. Working at Euphoria Vapor, a Cleveland vapor lounge, obviously means that I disagree with this statement, however it goes a little deeper than my support for where I work.

Let's be honest for a moment: e-cigarettes smell much better than regular cigarettes, right? There is no worry for those around individuals who use e-cigarettes to worry about toxic fumes entering their bodies or second-hand smoke, as there is no harmful smoke that is emitted into the air.

The vapor that is exhaled contains no nicotine and actually smells, well delicious (something that will be touched on shortly). Non-smokers near those who use e-cigarettes will not have to worry about toxic smoke fumes, as the vape disappears into the air.

With winter is right around the corner and we live in Ohio, we all know what that means: snow, wind and below-zero temperatures. If you use e-cigarettes, the last thing you will want to do is get bundled up to go outside and vape. Vape... not smoke. But once outside, you will be around those who do smoke, bringing back that temptation to start back up with cigarettes again.

For those who are working on quitting smoking, they won't really see a point when they are still treated as a smoker. Essentially, by making those who use e-cigarettes go outside, aren't they then doing something that is "harmful" to those nearby outside?

I have to ask how is that any different than if they were to vape inside? Won't they still be doing something "harmful" to individuals nearby them inside? Why is one better than the other?

E-cigarettes are an alternative to get people to stop smoking and provide them with the perk of having the opportunity to vape indoors.

And isn't the point of e-cigarettes to assist smokers in quitting their unhealthy habit? So why are we encouraging individuals to not use e-cigarettes? It goes back to people fearing what they don't understand. They just assume it is smoking, so therefore it is wrong.

In addition to those points, allow me to address some additional pros to e-cigarettes: They can be more enjoyable than a cigarette. Unlike cigarettes, you can create your own device that is unique to you (you can design the e-cig to give you a strong or weak hit). Touching on the juice a little, there are so many flavors- hundreds actually- that give more than just the standard "tobacco" flavor. Because of that, it can actually be refreshing instead of fatiguing, and the smell emitted is pleasant to anyone nearby (fruits, desserts, drinks, etc.).

In addition to that, it is a safer alternative to losing weight. Many individuals take up smoking to assist with losing weight. And when you quit smoking? Bring on the desserts and snacks! E-cigarettes cannot only help, but you can select e-juices that taste like desserts to assist with cravings of chocolate and pie. They also help you to quit smoking as they provide you with that "security blanket" of still holding a cigarette and placing something near your mouth. You choose the strength of nicotine and can gradually lower it until you are simply vaping a 0 mg.

To sum up, no I do not think that e-cigarettes should be banned in public places. I support those who vape and encourage those who utilize e-cigarettes to stop into either one of our locations to speak to our experienced staff to learn more about them, as e-cigs are definitely a conversation starter for those who vape and those who don't.