Governor Rick Snyder is asking the Legislature to send him a bill that would allow the state to tax and regulate e-cigarettes as a tobacco product.

As we hear from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta, a bill before the Legislature would ban e-cigarette sales to minors, but still does not go as far as what the governor wants.

E-cigarettes are electric devices that deliver nicotine via a smokeless mist. The state Department of Community Health wants e-cigarettes to be treated as a tobacco product – taxed as tobacco and subject to clean indoor air laws.

Governor Snyder says he’s standing with public health officials in his administration.

“At this point, the department is handling most of the communication, but you can tell how I feel about the issue in a relatively clear sense,” he says.

Supporters of the legislation say a standoff could delay any law to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of minors. They also say more study is needed before deciding to treat e-cigarettes as a tobacco product.