Posted on Sep 18, 2019 at 7:51 amUpdated Sep 18, 2019 8:05 AM
New York on Tuesday became the second US state, after Michigan, to ban the marketing of flavored electronic cigarettes, accused of encouraging young people to vape with, as a result, a high risk of nicotine addiction. The decision was made during a vote by the New York State Board of Public Health and Health Planning, called at the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo who called for emergency measures on Sunday.
It takes effect immediately, although the checks will only start in two weeks. This makes New York the first state to implement the measure, Michigan still awaiting the publication of the applicable texts.
Public health measure
The ban comes shortly after Donald Trump announced on September 11 that a similar measure would be taken in the coming months at the federal level. “New York is not waiting for the federal government to act,” Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “By banning flavored electronic cigarettes, we are taking a public health measure and helping to prevent countless young people from acquiring a lifelong, costly, unhealthy and potentially fatal addiction,” he said.
According to figures from the New York State Department of Health, nearly 40% of 12th graders vapot. However, electronic cigarettes are prohibited for sale to minors – the majority being between 18 and 21 years old depending on the state.
Apart from the problem of addiction, politicians, at local and national level, are being pushed to act by what now looks like a real health crisis. More than 380 people have recently experienced serious lung problems after vaping and six have died, according to the latest figures from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). On Tuesday, a seventh person died in California.
Source AFP
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