Vaping is on the rise nationwide, especially among children.A new bill in Kentucky is looking to crack down on the epidemic, but some critics are questioning whether that’s the true intention.High school junior Mallory Jones spoke in support of House Bill 11 because she sees so many of her peers vaping.”These places are advertising nicotine products as safe and fun,” she said. “Once one person in a friend group starts using e-cigarettes, word gets around of where you can buy these products illegally and it spreads like a domino effect.”The proposed bill would create a statewide database of retailers who sell tobacco and vaping products so inspectors could ensure those stores are only selling to customers who are 21 or older.It would also require all vaping products to have FDA approval.”We do know they cause lung injury and changes to brain development during a crucial stage of life,” Dr. Britt Anderson, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, said during a hearing for the bill. “And it’s not just the nicotine. The complete ingredient list may contain fine particles and other carrier solvents that are unhealthy as well.”Those two parts of the bill seem like a good thing. But one owner of a vaping product company says while FDA approval might sound like a good thing, there is a problem.”Quite frankly, a lot of the small businesses are mom and pops and we don’t have the billions of dollars to spend on testing,” said Troy LeBlanc, owner of Derb-e Cigs in Louisville.LeBlanc says makers of low-nicotine vapes will not be able to get FDA approval and will go out of business under the new bill, leaving only large companies with high-nicotine vapes.While he doesn’t agree with the new bill, LeBlanc says he does share lawmakers’ desire to crack down on sales to customers under 21.”I truly believe their heart is in the right place. However, I believe they’re being misled by large corporations to create a monopoly for those large corporations.”LeBlanc adds that he believes what lawmakers are trying to do will not make vape products safer in the state.HB 11 passed out of committee and could get a house floor vote as early as this week.
, Ky. —
Vaping is on the rise nationwide, especially among children.
A new bill in Kentucky is looking to crack down on the epidemic, but some critics are questioning whether that’s the true intention.
High school junior Mallory Jones spoke in support of House Bill 11 because she sees so many of her peers vaping.
“These places are advertising nicotine products as safe and fun,” she said. “Once one person in a friend group starts using e-cigarettes, word gets around of where you can buy these products illegally and it spreads like a domino effect.”
The proposed bill would create a statewide database of retailers who sell tobacco and vaping products so inspectors could ensure those stores are only selling to customers who are 21 or older.
It would also require all vaping products to have FDA approval.
“We do know they cause lung injury and changes to brain development during a crucial stage of life,” Dr. Britt Anderson, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, said during a hearing for the bill. “And it’s not just the nicotine. The complete ingredient list may contain fine particles and other carrier solvents that are unhealthy as well.”
Those two parts of the bill seem like a good thing. But one owner of a vaping product company says while FDA approval might sound like a good thing, there is a problem.
“Quite frankly, a lot of the small businesses are mom and pops and we don’t have the billions of dollars to spend on testing,” said Troy LeBlanc, owner of Derb-e Cigs in Louisville.
LeBlanc says makers of low-nicotine vapes will not be able to get FDA approval and will go out of business under the new bill, leaving only large companies with high-nicotine vapes.
While he doesn’t agree with the new bill, LeBlanc says he does share lawmakers’ desire to crack down on sales to customers under 21.
“I truly believe their heart is in the right place. However, I believe they’re being misled by large corporations to create a monopoly for those large corporations.”
LeBlanc adds that he believes what lawmakers are trying to do will not make vape products safer in the state.
HB 11 passed out of committee and could get a house floor vote as early as this week.
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