Plan would ban sale of e-cigs to minors, make state a healthier place

State Rep. Thomas Albert and state Sen. Rick Outman today unveiled a plan to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors as well as possession by individuals under 18.

“Simply put, the long-term health effects of vaping are endangering our kids,” said Outman, of Six Lakes. “We are trying to keep them out of the hands of our children before this epidemic spirals out of control. We need a common-sense ban against these products, and we can’t sit around and wait any longer.”

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine and flavoring without burning tobacco. A heating device vaporizes liquid inside a cartridge, called “vaping.” Many devices are colorful and made to look harmless – including a version that looks just like a computer USB flash drive, making them difficult to detect in schools.

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 federal Food and Drug Administration has rules banning the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18, but there is nothing similar in state law doing so. With the adoption of a state law, law enforcement and schools will have an easier time keeping addictive, unregulated chemicals off campuses. The plan also protects Michigan if federal regulations change, Albert said.

“We owe it to our children to do more to keep e-cigarettes out of their hands,” said Albert, of Lowell. “These hazardous products are marketed to be attractive to our youth, but in reality, they pose a great health risk. Let’s step up, ban these unknown, unregulated chemicals, and do the right thing for the health and safety of our communities.”

A Harvard study reported 39 of 51 examined e-cigarette flavors contained diacetyl, which is commonly associated with “popcorn lung” – the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a condition that damages airways, Outman said.

“I’m hopeful our plan is a key step forward in improving the health of Michigan residents, as well as a means to keep a gateway addiction out of our schools and communities,” Outman said.

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Outman’s legislation will be formally read in Tuesday as Senate Bill 106. Albert’s legislation is House Bill 4164.