CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley County has become the first municipality in Tennessee to ban the use of electronic cigarettes and other vapor-generating products within all buildings owned or leased by the county.

Commissioners voted 9-1 late Monday night in favor of the ban sponsored by Commissioner Charlotte Peak-Jones.

“I believe we are kind of gunning for e-cigarette users, and I can’t support that,” said Commissioner Jeff Yarber, who cast the sole opposing vote. “The studies I’ve seen on e-cigarettes and vapor products are inconclusive as far as [the effects] being negative.”

Peak-Jones said the prohibition is not intended to go users of the products.

“My resolution was not meant to gun for them, it was meant to gun for what we cannot see in the vapor products,” she said.

A few weeks ago, about two dozen e-cigarette vendors and users addressed the Bradley County Commissionabout the proposed ban. During that discussion, they expressed support for the county’s right to decide whether to prohibit vapor product use in county buildings.