Washington State to Discuss Flavor Vape Ban on Oct. 9, Including THC Products

According to CBS News, Washington state governor last Friday directed health officials to discuss a ban on the sale of flavored vaping products next month.

If the state health department uses its emergency powers to enact the ban on October 9, the state will prohibit the sale of all flavored vaping products, including THC products. The temporary ban can be renewed after 120 days.

Governor Jay Inslee also said he would draft legislation to permanently ban all flavored vapor products and any ingredient found to be linked to lung disease, and would require disclosure of all ingredients in flavored vapor products.

After announcing the news at a press conference, the governor said he hoped to do more through the executive order and described it as a minimum requirement rather than a maximum one.

The executive order comes amid growing nationwide concern over harms associated with vaping products. In Washington state, there are currently 7 cases of lung illness, the most recent in Pierce County.

Washington is not the only state calling for a vaping ban. Michigan, New York, and Rhode Island all announced emergency bans on flavored vaping products this month.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a public health emergency and ordered a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping devices in the state, not just flavored products.

Vaping companies such as Juul have marketed their products to users as a less deadly alternative to smoking.

The use of vaping has divided health officials. The American Lung Association says vaping is not safe, while the American Cancer Society says it is far less harmful to adults than smoking regular cigarettes.

However, vaping products have come under increasing scrutiny after being linked to more than 800 mysterious lung illness cases affecting vapers nationwide, including 13 deaths, and the cause of the outbreak remains unclear.

Other states, including Arkansas, Texas, and Washington, have also enacted laws raising the legal age to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products, to 21.