A bill in the U.S. state of Vermont is gaining traction that would outlaw all flavored vaping and other tobacco products.
Sponsors of the legislation said the bill is an attempt to curve the spike of youth nicotine use and to improve the health of all Vermonters, according to NBC5.
“The health consequences are huge, we know of cardiovascular disease, lung disease, various cancers, and pre-cancerous chronic conditions like emphysema,” said Sen. Virginia Lyons, lead sponsor of the bill.
Lawmakers also acknowledged that while the state may lose money from tobacco tax revenue, it could be made up in healthcare savings with Vermont spending an average of $348 million annually to treat tobacco-caused illnesses.
NBC5 received the following statement on the potential ban from an R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company spokesperson.
“Reynolds is committed to Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) and we believe our portfolio of potentially reduced-risk products can play a critical role in its delivery. We strongly believe there are more effective ways to deliver tobacco harm reduction than banning menthol in cigarettes. Evidence from other markets where similar bans have been imposed demonstrates little impact on overall cigarette consumption.”
Several states in the Northeast have or are considering flavor bans. Connecticut also introduced a bill that would ban flavored e-cigarettes. New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island have barred the sale of flavored vaping products. Massachusetts banned all flavored tobacco items, including flavored cigars, cigarettes and vaping goods.
Vermont’s ban was originally proposed in early 2020 as a way to prevent youth use, but was sidelined after the Covid-19 pandemic began to impact the country.