Nassau lawmakers voted unanimously on legislation banning the sale of flavored vapes and E-cigarettes in the county Monday.
County Executive Laura Curran said in a statement she will sign the into law the legislation that bans flavored vaping products not including tobacco, mint or menthol products.
“I commend the County Legislature for their passage of a ban on the sale of flavored vaping products in Nassau County by a vote of 18-0,” Curran said.
She said there has been “an alarming rise” in e-cigarette use among our young people, and that “Big Tobacco” has been targeting the youth of America with flavors like bubblegum, mango, or cotton candy has driven that rise.
“We cannot allow a whole new generation to get hooked on these toxic products,” Curran said. “The health and safety of our children must always come first. I look forward to signing this bill into law.”
Curran also gave a special thanks to county Legislator Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview) who proposed the bill. The ban will go into effect Jan. 1 once it is signed.
“As the number of deaths and individuals stricken with serious lung illnesses continues to rise, it is our duty as lawmakers to take decisive action to protect the health and well-being of our citizens and especially our young people,” Drucker said. “It is clear to me that vape manufacturers cynically leverage cotton-candy, blueberry and cookie-flavored vapes as tools for hooking unsuspecting young people on nicotine.”
The legislation that the variety of flavors available has led to an increase in tobacco product use among youths and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that ingredients in e-cigarette aerosols may have long term harmful effects and flavoring agents like diacetyl in vaping products may have links to severe lung disease.
As of Nov. 20, The Centers for Disease Control has reported. there have been 2,290 death and lung injury cases associated with e-cigarette use, Drucker’s office said.
“While I was disappointed that there were several delays in reaching this moment, I am thankful for the outcome of today’s vote and all who supported my push to remove these dangerous products from the market,” Drucker said.
