TRENTON – Legislation might be introduced to slowly phase out vaping products in New Jersey.
Senate President Steve Sweeney announced a plan that would make New Jersey the only – or perhaps first – state in the nation to ban the sale of all electronic smoking devices, including nicotine cartridges and containers.
New legislation, S-3265, if passed, would ban sale or distribution of flavored electronic smoking devices and products. This was introduced by Mercer County Senator Shirley K. Turner. Michigan has a similar law on the books.
Critics of electronic smoking have stated that flavored vaping products are ways to hook younger people into the habit.
Additionally, Middlesex’s Senator Joe Vitale has authored a bill to limit the sale of e-cigarettes.
“I support the efforts of Senator Turner and Senator Vitale to protect young people from the dangers of vaping,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “These initiatives could be the first steps towards a total ban on the sale of all vaping products, including e-cigarettes. I will propose a plan to phase out the sale of all vaping products over the next few years.”
The Centers for Disease Control noted that as of September 6, 2019, more than 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with the use of e-cigarette products have been reported and more are expected. There have been five known deaths associated with this lung illness. They are mounting an investigation alongside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other agencies.
“The investigation has not identified any specific substance or e-cigarette product that is linked to all cases. Many patients report using e-cigarette products with liquids that contain cannabinoid products, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),” the CDC reported.
“The health and safety and even the lives of young people are at risk,” said Senator Sweeney. “The flavored products are targeted at teenagers and young adults with the intent of luring them into addiction. We should not allow another generation to get addicted to a product that lowers life expectancy and seriously damages their heart and lungs. Here is a product that we know is seriously harming the health of users, especially our youth.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, e-cigarette use among middle and high school students increased by 900 percent between 2011 and 2015, and a 2015 report from the National Health Interview Survey found that 40 percent of young e-cigarette users were never smokers before trying e-cigarettes.
On Sept. 9, the FDA sent a warning to JUUL Labs for illegally marketing e-cigarettes as less harmful. One of these marketing pitches were to children in a school setting.
