Inside Perspective
The vapor industry makes an economic impact of more than $24 billion in the U.S. The news media is now being more responsible in its reports surrounding lung disease caused by black market THC vapor products. Speaking at TABEXPO, a vapor and tobacco trade show that was held in Amsterdam in November, Maggie Gowen, the executive director of the Global Vaping Standards Association (GVSA), said the e-cigarette and vapor industry in the U.S. is larger than the country’s iron and steel industry and employs nearly as many people as the commercial fishing industry. The industry has produced over 166,000 jobs, and wages and benefits earned are about $8 billion.
Gowen also updated attendees on the recent rash of lung disease caused by black market THC vapor products. “Over the last three months, the U.S. government health agencies have done a terrible job separating nicotine-based vaping products versus illegal black market THC vaping products. And as a result, they have conflated the two issues. The two agencies issued conflicting warnings to the public,” she said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was a bit more responsible, warning the public “to stop using THC-containing” vapor products while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended consumers “stop using e-cigarette products” altogether, said Gowen. “As a result, the media went into a frenzy and began to sensationalize the headlines. Vaping death headlines soared throughout the national news outlets, becoming the top stories in the morning and evening news for weeks. The vaping industry quickly came under attack. And, unfortunately, the CDC did nothing to clarify their warnings. Instead, they choose to continue to lead their reporting with self-reported patient claims.”
Gowen explained that the panic then trickled down to individual states. Some governors used their executive powers to issue statewide emergency bans on nicotine-based vapor products, especially attacking and targeting flavored vapor products. “To counter this, many industry stakeholders are joining forces and filing lawsuits, but as we know, that takes time, and businesses and supply chains are being greatly affected,” she said. “Many vape shops have already closed their doors. Many other businesses are reporting double-digit declines as a result of the issues.”
As of today, the CDC and the media are reporting a little more responsibly, according to Gowen. The latest CDC warning recommends that consumers do not use e-cigarettes or vapor products containing THC. A stark contrast from the organization previously stating not to use e-cigarettes at all. “As a result, the headlines are slowly improving and telling a more realistic story. We are seeing, in my opinion, more responsible reporting,” said Gowen. “THC vaping products are actually in the headlines. Michigan, which was the first state to impose an emergency ban, is now reporting that [a] ‘Michigan resident dies from vaping-related illness as state remains silent about black market THC.’ Other media outlets, such as CNN, are warning consumers to ‘stop using THC vaping products.’ This is a stark contrast to the reporting in September.”
