Vapes Banned Due to Severe Injuries

By: Samantha Olguin
Staff Writer

Vape users have been left outraged after a flavored vape ban was passed due to several teenager’s hospitalizations that were tied to the use of flavored vape brands.

The ban prevents the use of almost all of flavored nicotine and THC products including the e-cigarette giant, Juul labs.  According to CNN there have been roughly 805 lung Injuries across the states this year alone.

Thirteen people, seven of them teenagers, have died from a lung illness tied to vaping and its effects. This ban was put into place in order to prevent further casualties or any other harm caused by flavored vapes and products with any similar content.

Adults who do use vape products at the legal age of 21 and up are upset about the ban, blaming teenagers who they claim are too young to properly monitor their use of vape products.

“Juul products have helped me stay off cigarettes, and I personally do like the flavored kind but now because of teenagers and youth I don’t have that option anymore,” said Elizabeth Procter, 38, who is a frequent e-cigarette user.

Companies that produce flavored nicotine and THC products also took a hit when this ban was put into place on Oct. 9. The vaping industry was caught off guard by this ban as they are now prohibited to sell any flavored nicotine or THC products, which could cause million dollar losses for these companies and could potentially put small businesses at risk.

In Washington, this executive order on banning flavored vape products is set to last 120 days, but Governor Jay Inslee hopes to make this ban permanent for the upcoming 2020 legislation.

It is common knowledge that teens use flavored nicotine and THC products, despite the age restriction being 21. With the lack of a fully formed frontal lobe, vape users at a young age can tend to use vape products without performing the necessary precautions that come with it.

The ban is not only impacting the stores and companies relying on its success in profit, but it also is affecting those who quit smoking and rely on vape products to change their addiction for the better.

On the bright side, keeping vape products off store shelves could encourage teens and adults alike to avoid both nicotine and vape products altogether. Both of which have proven to be harmful to the human body, just in different ways.