New Jersey Legislators Look to Ban All Vaping Products

In New Jersey, three vaping-related illnesses have been confirmed by the Department of Health and 19 others are under investigation.

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey could be the first state in the nation to ban the sale of all vaping products.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) announced on Wednesday, Sept. 11, that he is creating a phased-in ban on all vaping products, including electronic smoking devices, nicotine cartridges and containers, and other vapor products.

“I support the efforts of Senator Turner and Senator Vitale to protect young people from the dangers of vaping,” Sweeney said. “These initiatives could be the first steps towards a total ban on the sale of all vaping products, including e-cigarettes. I will propose a plan to phase out the sale of all vaping products over the next few years.”

Related: Follow Local News Speaks with Experts About Vaping-Related Illnesses

Sweeney praised legislation from Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) that would prohibit the sale or distribution of flavored electronic smoking devices and related products (S-3265) and a bill from Senator Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) that would limit the sales of e-cigarettes.

If S-3265 is passed, New Jersey would be the second state after Michigan to stop the sale and distribution of flavored electronic smoking devices.

“The health and safety and even the lives of young people are at risk,” Sweeney said. “The flavored products are targeted at teenagers and young adults with the intent of luring them into addiction. We should not allow another generation to get addicted to a product that lowers life expectancy and seriously damages their heart and lungs. Here is a product that we know is seriously harming the health of users, especially our youth.”

The Centers for Disease Control announced that 450 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses in 33 states are under investigation. While in New Jersey, three vaping-related illnesses have been confirmed by the Department of Health and 19 others are under investigation.

Earlier this week the Food and Drug Administration sent JUUL Labs Inc a warning letter for their marketing practices, saying that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes.

“Regardless of where products like e-cigarettes fall on the continuum of tobacco product risk, the law is clear that, before marketing tobacco products for reduced risk, companies must demonstrate with scientific evidence that their specific product does in fact pose less risk or is less harmful. JUUL has ignored the law, and very concerningly, has made some of these statements in school to our nation’s youth,” Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. said.

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