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Albert: Michigan must do more to prevent youth e-cigarette usage
RELEASE|February 26, 2019

Initiative bans sales of e-cigs to minors, helps enforce regulation

State Rep. Thomas Albert today testified before the House Regulatory Reform Committee in support of his plan banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors as well as the possession by individuals under 18.

“This critical first step is to keep hazardous chemicals out of the hands of our children,” said Albert, of Lowell. “Eliminating nicotine exposure now will prevent a health crisis down the road. This legislation will also enhance law enforcement and help schools keep e-cigarettes off campuses. This plan takes the necessary action to protect our communities from addiction.”

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine and flavoring without burning tobacco. Many devices are colorful and made to look harmless – including a version that looks just like a computer USB flash drive, making them appealing to teens and difficult to detect in schools.

Albert invited Ionia Intermediate School District Superintendent Ethan Ebenstein and Associate Superintendent Ted Payton to join him to testify about the struggles schools face keeping e-cigarettes off campuses.

“Ionia schools are seeing explosive growth of these products, and are finding themselves in a constant struggle to keep students from using them,” Albert said. “Without enough education on these harmful chemicals, I fear of the health problems of teenagers that will come to light in the future.”

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared youth e-cigarette usage an “epidemic”. In a 2018 Centers for Disease Control survey, roughly one in five high school students reported using such products – up 78 percent from 2017.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration bans the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18, but Michigan state law does not. With the adoption House Bill 4164, law enforcement and schools will have a pathway to keeping addictive, unregulated chemicals off campuses.

The plan also protects Michigan if federal regulations change, Albert said.

Photo Information: State Rep. Thomas Albert testifies before the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday in support of his legislation banning minors from purchasing and possessing harmful e-cigarette products to solve a growing statewide epidemic.

Photo Information: Ionia Intermediate School District Superintendent Ethan Ebenstein (right) and Associate Superintendent Ted Payton testify before the House Regulatory Reform Committee in support of state Rep. Thomas Albert’s House Bill 4164.

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