RICHMOND, Va. – As more and more people using vapes, especially with illegally added substances, across the nation are falling ill, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that he is considering a ban on e-cigarettes -- and health organizations across the commonwealth are urging him to take action.
The American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Tobacco21.org, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia banded together to unanimously call for Northam to act.
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The groups are calling for Northam to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes. They're also urging him to levy a $1.80 comparable tax on all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.
"The youth e-cigarette epidemic is nothing short of a public health emergency that must be urgently confronted," the statement reads.
According to the statement, new preliminary data from the National Tobacco Youth Survey shows e-cigarette use has more than doubled since 2017 and that currently, 27.5 percent of high school students have used e-cigarettes in the last month.
"Most kids initiate tobacco use with flavored tobacco products, making the removal of flavored e-cigarettes a critical step in addressing the epidemic and preventing tobacco use," the statement continues. "The current epidemic of youth e-cigarette use is threatening the health of Virginia children―permanent and immediate solutions to protect them from a lifetime of tobacco and nicotine addiction are needed now."