Austin Statesmen: More than 100 vaping-related illnesses in Texas

[LoveVanilla]

More than 100 vaping-related illnesses confirmed in Texas

...Texas lawmakers on Tuesday mulled remedies that included limiting the flavors of e-cigarettes, ratcheting up marketing campaigns against their use and increasing fines against retailers who sell to minors.

...among the top three states with most cases of vaping-related illnesses

Texas lawmakers this year passed legislation banning the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes to people younger than 21.

... supervisor of the tobacco tax section of the comptroller’s office, said his job is made more difficult by the fact that retailers selling vaping products are not required to have a special permit to do so. Retailers must have a special permit to sell traditional cigarettes and tobacco products.

“Because of this, we are unable to identify retailers who only sell e-cigarette products to conduct our compliance inspection,” Thigpen said.

Thigpen agreed that increasing fines to retailers would discourage sales to minors.

“I have seen nothing but everybody ... treating us like drug dealers,” said Justin Gibson, an Austin vape storeowner. “The difference between the people who actually own vape shops and ... convenient stores is that we started our businesses because we are passionate about how it helped us live a healthier lifestyle.”