My Testimony Today Regarding the Massachusetts Emergency Ban on the Sale of Electronic Cigarettes

Testimony of Michael Siegel, MD, MPHProfessor, Boston University School of Public HealthNovember 22, 2019The Department of Public Health justified its emergency order by arguing that removing vaping products from the market would protect the public – and especially youth – from the vaping-associated respiratory disease outbreak that has now affected more than 2,000 people and caused 47 deaths.However, unbeknownst to many, this emergency order wasnot successfulin removing all vaping products from the market. In fact, the Department ’s emergency order exempted – and therefore failed to remove from the market - a large number of flavored e-liquid products that are highly popular among youth and which Massachusetts youth continue to use, despite the emergency order. These flavored e-liquids are used by 63% of youth who vape r egularly. Unfortunately, all of the following flavors are exempt from the ban and remain on the market today throughout the Commonwealth, easily accessible to youth.The exempted flavors include all of the following:     " Mario Carts Vanilla Glue, "     " Heavy Hitters Vape Strawberry, "     " Honey, "     " Gelato, "     " Blueberry, "     " Banana Sherbet, "     " Jillybean, "     " Super Lemon Haze, "     " Romulan Grapefruit, "     " Sour Tangi...
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