US States Start Banning Vaping Products as Mystery illness Spreads

The US State of Massachusetts on Tuesday imposed a four-month ban on sales of all vaping products. Amid what officials called a national public health emergency that’s linked to nine deaths.

The state will block all sales of e-cigarettes and supplies, both those used for tobacco and marijuana.  Governor Charlie Baker and state officials told a news conference it was legal for the state to impost the ban.

New York state and Michigan, banned the sale of flavored vaping products earlier this month. Out of concern that those products appealed to children.

The ban, applies to flavored and non-flavored products, took immediate effect and will last through Jan. 25, officials said.

“The use of e-cigarettes and marijuana vaping products is exploding and we are seeing reports of serious lung illnesses. Particularly in our young people,” Governor Baker told a news conference.

The four-month period is intended to give medical experts time to determine what aspect of vaping is causing the illnesses. Also for the state to determine whether new regulations could allow for safer vaping products.

A mysterious lung disease linked to vaping has effected at least 530 people in 38 states. Its toll is expected to rise, federal health officials told a congressional hearing on vaping on Tuesday.

The popularity of e-cigarettes has now grown to the point where one in four 12th-graders reported vaping a nicotine product. It is nearly one in 10 for 8th-graders, a study by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reported.

California Tells People to Stop Vaping Immediately

Meanwhile, California health officials issued a warning Tuesday that people stop vaping immediately. Joining a growing chorus of health experts advising caution around e-cigarette use.

In California, there have been two deaths due as well as 90 people who have been hospitalized.

Dr. Charity Dean, California’s acting public health officer told news “We are seeing something that we have not seen before.” “There are numerous unknown factors at this time, and due to the uncertainty of the exact cause. It is our recommendation that consumers refrain from vaping until the investigation has concluded.”

“People are getting sick and some are dying as a result of vaping,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement Tuesday.

“Californians are encouraged to stop vaping until health officials fully understand what’s causing this public health crisis.”

A mysterious lung disease has sickened at least 530 people in 38 states, and its toll is expected to rise, federal health officials told a congressional hearing on vaping on Tuesday.

Source: L.A. Times News, Reuters News