Michigan Becomes First State to Ban Sale of Flavored Vaping Products

Amidst the growing crisis that the multi-billion dollar vaping industry poses among smokers, Michigan has announced it will be banning the sale of flavored vaping products, making it the first state in the country to impose such a ban. 

The ban will allow sellers 30 days to comply and will last six-months, though Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will have the authority to renew it. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will also be tasked with removing “misleading marketing of vaping products,” to show that these products pose an inherent threat to all who use them.

“As governor, my number one priority is keeping our kids safe,” Whitmer said in the statement. “And right now, companies selling vaping products are using candy flavors to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe. That ends today.”

Research has shown that flavored vape pods are more likely to be chosen by kids as opposed to adults who use the product as a means to help quit smoking cigarettes. The appeal of flavored pods along with a lack of awareness of the risks associated with vaping make kids an easy target for getting hooked. 

This move mirrors the recent decision of San Francisco’s board of supervisors, who unanimously voted to ban e-cigarette sales within the city. No person or business may sell or distribute vaping products within the city unless the product has undergone a premarket review by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

So far this year, we have seen first-hand the health risks that vaping poses to smokers. There have been a number of cases of a mysterious lung illness that have been linked to vaping. One severe case was that of a 17-year old Tryston Zohfeld, who had been admitted to the hospital and put in a medically induced coma. Doctors later found out the teen had been secretly vaping since 14, causing his lungs to become severely inflamed. 

Several deaths have also been reported that were linked to yet-to-be-known vaping illness that is popping up around the country. Whether it’s caused by contaminants, ingredients in the vape liquid, or the device itself, experts are still unsure of what causes the development of this illness.