In California, lawmakers have proposed a bill that could ban all flavored tobacco products from being sold in the state. This possible change is a more drastic approach than that taken by the federal government, and an effort to curb America’s e-cigarette addiction.

The Los Angeles Times explains that the proposed new California law could affect all tobacco — including e-cigarette products and flavored tobacco present in traditional products like cigarettes and cigars.

Reportedly, the law would only apply to products sold in stores. The Los Angeles Times says that the new law would not apply to products sold on the internet, either by California-based businesses or businesses based in other states. 

The legislation was brought forward by a group of 30 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle attempting to curb the recent vaping fad. 

If the proposed law is passed, California will become the second state to fully ban flavored tobacco products. Massachusetts has instituted a ban on flavored tobacco that will begin in June. 

Proponents believe that the new law may be able to prevent young people from developing tobacco addictions, and will be a step towards reducing America’s e-cigarette addiction. In recent years, teen use of vape pens has skyrocketed. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reported that teen use of vape pens has doubled since 2017, according to Kaiser News.

Experts have speculated that some e-cigarette companies intentionally advertise their products to teens and young adults, using appealing favors to lure young people in. Critics say e-liquid comes in attractive flavors that mimic candy or food products and can be consumed without the traditional burn of tobacco. Allegedly, these appealing flavors and ease of use may attract teens who would not be attracted to the flavor and burn of traditional tobacco.

Vox explains that e-cigarette companies may have intentionally marketed their products to teens in an effort to make a product without competing with the market already dominated by Big Tobacco. According to Vox, teens represented a new market of people not already smoking cigarettes.

Critics of the proposed California law say that bans are not effective in keeping flavored cigarettes out of the hands of young tobacco users. The executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, which represents e-cigarette makers, says that a ban on flavored tobacco “will drive people back to combustible cigarettes, the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, JUUL Labs Inc.,  the maker of e-cigarettes that holds a large share of the vaping market, also objects to the proposed law.

California’s proposed bans is more severe than the restrictions implemented by the Trump administration on a federal level. In January, the Trump administration announced a temporary ban on some candy and fruit-flavored e-cigarettes. California activists criticized this move for not going far enough to stop America’s e-cigarette addiction, nor the general rise in tobacco use. In the words of Senator Jerry Hill who proposed California flavored tobacco ban, “flavored tobacco products are the gateway to nicotine addiction,” so the new law may go a long way towards stopping a growing problem.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.