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

The House Regulatory Reform Committee today overwhelmingly approved state Rep. Thomas Albert’s safety measure banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, as well as possession by individuals under 18.

“For each day that passes without critical action, teenagers across the state are exposing themselves to harmful, addictive products capable of bearing long-term health effects,” said Albert, of Lowell. “Michigan is currently one of two states in the country without any regulation banning the possession and sales of e-cigarettes to minors. We must do better. This legislation is all about keeping vaping devices out of the hands our children and prevent a health crisis down the road.”

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine and flavoring without burning tobacco. Many devices are colorful and designed 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.

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.

“This growing epidemic has infested our communities’ K-12 schools, including recent reports of e-cigarette usage by students as early as middle school,” Albert said. “Kids are watching their peers ‘vape’ and assume it’s the ‘cool’ thing to do without knowing the health risks that are associated with these addictive products. Schools and local law enforcement know firsthand how quickly this situation is spiraling out of control. With this vote, we are one step closer to getting this legislation across the finish line and protecting our kids.”

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 of Albert’s plan, law enforcement and schools will have a pathway to keeping addictive, unregulated chemicals off campuses.

House Bill 4164 now moves to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.