MANHATTAN, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo said that he would ask the state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council to ban flavored e-cigarette products. Newsday said that the ban could be implemented within a couple of weeks. The State of New York’s ban will go into effect several weeks before a similar ban takes effect in […]
MANHATTAN, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo said that he would ask the state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council to ban flavored e-cigarette products. Newsday said that the ban could be implemented within a couple of weeks. The State of New York’s ban will go into effect several weeks before a similar ban takes effect in Michigan, making the State of New York’s ban the first in the nation. Governor Cuomo said that the ban is necessary to protect young people and teenagers from becoming life-long smoking addicts.
Governor Cuomo went on the attack in a news conference held in Manhattan recently. The governor passionately discussed the hazards vaping poses to young people. Governor Cuomo believes that e-cigarette manufacturers target younger populations to get them hooked on nicotine products. The governor’s criticism hits the mark. Newsday reported that the State of New York’s public health agency estimated that an astounding 40% of all high school seniors are using e-cigarettes and 27% of all high school student vape.
Governor Cuomo said that e-cigarette makers implemented a similar marketing strategy with e-cigarettes as tobacco companies did with traditional smokes. Vaping product manufacturers make their products in candy and fruit flavors to lure kids into a false sense of security by convincing them that vaping is healthy.
The current vaping health crisis sweeping the country suggests otherwise. Six people have now died, and hundreds more have fallen ill to the mysterious lung illnesses attacking e-cigarette users. Newsday reported that health officials on Long Island say that two people nearly died and nineteen more have fallen ill with respiratory illnesses stemming from vaping.
The president recently advocated for a ban of all e-cigarette products. Regrettably, the president indicated that he believes the FDA should ban all counterfeit vaping products on the market. No time frame was given for the FDA to take action.