Whitmer bans flavored vapes

By Claire Convis
Staff Writer

Michigan became the first state to ban flavored nicotine vaping and e-cigarette products last week.

The ban follows the reported six cases of lung illness in Michigan currently under investigation by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for a possible link to e-cigarette and vape usage.

An additional 450 people in the United States have reportedly developed similar cases of the lung illness, as of Friday.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued the ban as an emergency rule and said it comes as part of her goal to protect youth.

“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,” said Whitmer in her official press release on the decision.

To prohibit further “misleading claims” made by vaping and e-cigarette companies, the ban also prevents companies from using words such as “safe,” “healthy” or “clear” to advertise and promote their products to the public.

Gage Lindnerman is a student at WCC who decided to quit vaping last month.

“I personally never got too hooked on it; I never got the cravings, but I did start to notice some behavioral issues,” said Lindnerman. “I decided I don’t want this to control me… I’ve been off it for awhile now, and I haven’t had any desire to get a new [vaping device] …I didn’t get anything from it, I was just losing.”

Lindnerman said he’s known people who’ve struggled with cigarette addictions their whole lives; while he’s noticed both adults and adolescents using vape products, Lindnerman observed particularly high use by young adults.

In 2018, 3.62 million middle- and high school students were using e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“If you can get off of it, then get off of it, there are better things to do with your time and money than that,” said Lindnerman. “It would be good to stop if you can, and for some people I know it’s hard and you might really have to put in some effort, but it’ll be better in the long run.”

Lindnerman said that he was rarely carded when purchasing vaping products.

“It definitely needs to be controlled a bit better than it is now,” Lindnerman said.

Lindnerman also pointed to the fact that vaping products are fairly inexpensive and easy for minors to buy, and suggested that taxing the items more might make them a little less appealing to youth.

“Make it a little more expensive to buy,” said Lindnerman. “Educate people, and then let them make their own choice.”

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