@sofarsogood , second hand information that I read was the governor was over-reacting to the news stories of teens getting sick and being hospitalized and near death. She wanted council to draw up tougher e-cigarette laws, but they drug their feet, so she executed an executive order on her own behalf. I suspect she had political inspirations, too.
I had a long discussion with a non-smoker/non-vaper friend about this flavor ban. He wasn't aware how important flavors are for adults who vape. He said to keep children from being attracted to ecigarettes with flavors, e-cigarettes should be limited to tobacco and menthol because that is what cigarettes have. I told him this flavor ban also includes menthol and only tobacco flavor will be allowed. I added that I was a menthol smoker and hated non-menthol cigarettes. I said if only tobacco flavors were available when I considered to try vaping, I would have failed to stop smoking.
I like to include links to prove my points. Below is our actual Face Book conversation:
JOHN: It's a ban on FLAVORS, right? The reason being that kids are attracted to the FLAVORS. If an adult wants to vape, they can still do it, right? That's hardly a "death sentence" for anyone...... except the vaper who STILL runs the higher risks associated with nicotine and the still-unknown effects of the introduction of the vaping compound.
ME: Adults like flavors, too. In fact, having a choice of flavors is one of the primary reasons that e-cigarettes are so successful for smokers to quit smoking. E-liquid manufacturers can't create a flavor that "tastes like a cigarette", its impossible. So yes, banning flavors for e-cigarettes is a death sentence for the industry. You and I could debate all day and night about the so-called risks of vaping.
Why You Don’t Need an E-Liquid that Tastes Like Cigarettes
The effect of e-cigarette aerosol emissions on respiratory health: a narrative review. - PubMed - NCBI
JOHN: Yes, I'm sure that adults like flavors. IMHO, they can do without if it helps keep kids from vaping. Kids are more important........... period.
ME: There are already laws in all states that prohibit under-aged vaping. How about enforcing those laws instead of creating a ban that will destroy an industry that can allow smokers and previous smokers to stop using tobacco products? Prohibition didn't work for alcohol. It won't work for banning vaping, either. Black markets will be created, and we already know the cannibus black market has recently put hundreds of "teens" into hospitals. How about PARENTS better monitor what their kids spend their money on?
JOHN: I agree that the laws should be enforced, but as you know we ALL drank and smoked when under age. How about a compromise/ Cigs had regular and menthol, right? So, allow Vapes to have that.
ME: This ban in Michigan includes menthol. I smoked strictly menthol cigarettes when I smoked. Not having flavors to choose from would have kept me from being successful vaping and quitting cigarettes. I hated tobacco cigarettes and I hate tobacco e-liquid flavors. I'd still be a smoker, or dead if there were no flavors to choose from. They are that important.
ME: Your rationale can be compared to the deaths of children in the school shootings. It wasn't the guns that killed them, it was deranged people who did. Are you in favor of banning all guns to "save the children"?
JOHN: OK, I would agree that Michigan should include Menthol. Perhaps they will amend the Executive Order. And I agree that it's the "user", not the "vehicle". It's just harder for a kid to get a gun and use it than a E-cig. Therefore, as I said before, i' am in favor of a compromise. But, in the end, it's up to Michigan. The bottom line, though, is that the kid are more important than the adults and that's why our other laws put kids first.
ME: FDA Created the Youth Vaping Epidemic, Now It’s Doubling Down
JOHN: (No comment. End of conversation.)
