Working to Reduce Youth Vaping and Tobacco Use

As the vaping crisis grows, it is incumbent upon state and federal officials to work together to stem the rise in youth vaping and prevent another generation of Americans from getting hooked on nicotine. This important effort begins by stopping Big Tobacco from continuing to sell fruit-flavored and candy-flavored e-cigarette products, which are increasingly popular among teenagers and adolescents. Sadly, after initially announcing that his administration would prohibit most forms of flavored vaping products, President Trump caved to a sustained pressure campaign from Big Tobacco and only instituted a partial ban. To fill the void left by the Trump administration's failure, it is now up to states across the country and leaders in Congress to get the job done. Once again, Maryland can lead the way. During this legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly has an opportunity to follow through on what the Trump Administration failed to do – ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products. A bill led by Del. Dereck Davis of Prince George's County would prevent Big Tobacco from continuing to target Maryland teenagers with fruit- and candy- flavored products. A companion bill in the Maryland Senate also enjoys strong support. Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives has proposed the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act (H.R. 2339), a bill that would ban flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, and would raise the purchasing age for tobacco to 21.