MIchigan to Again Try Banning Flavored E-liquids
Credit: Sahand Babali
The Michigan Governor’s administration is working on another statewide ban on flavored nicotine vaping products without legislative approval after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first emergency order was struck down by courts.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) held a virtual public hearing on Tuesday to solicit public comments on its proposal to permanently ban the sale and distribution of flavored nicotine vaping products. MDHHS is accepting comments until Friday.
The hearing is the first step required to impose a ban, which state officials support to crack down on the rise in youth vaping, according to the Metro Times.
“MDHHS is proceeding with permanent administrative rules preventing the sale and advertisement of flavored nicotine vapor products in the state to protect the health and safety of Michiganders, particularly our youngest residents,” MDHHS spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin tells Metro Times. “The explosive and unprecedented rise in youth vaping continues to be a public health emergency and a nationwide epidemic.”
Whitmer issued an executive order to ban flavored Michigan in September 2019, becoming the first state to ban flavored nicotine vaping products. But a Michigan Court of Claims judge issued an injunction requested by vape shop owners, who argued Whitmer overstepped her authority by imposing a ban without the approval of state lawmakers. The Michigan Supreme Court last month denied the state’s request to reconsider the lower court’s ruling.