SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ Six California legislators proposed Thursday to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products _ including those used in electronic cigarettes _ in retail stores and vending machines in the state, citing concern over a steep increase in nicotine use among youths.
The lawmakers said they would introduce such a measure when the Legislature convenes next week, and that it would also impose age verification requirements for online sales of tobacco products.
"We must stop the appalling epidemic of e-cigarette use by youths," said Democratic state Sen. Jerry Hill of San Mateo, who is co-authoring the bill with others including Democratic state Sens. Anthony Portantino of La Canada Flintridge and Connie Leyva of Chino.
"Enticed by fruit, candy and other appealing flavors, high school and middle school students throughout the U.S. are vaping in record numbers," Hill added.
The measure would also ban retail sales of menthol cigarettes.
The proposal comes a few days after the e-cigarette company JUUL announced it would phase out some of its flavors and put in place tougher age restrictions. JUUL was under pressure from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which had directed it to provide evidence that its products were not being marketed to underage consumers.
The California lawmakers voiced alarm about a large spike in e-cigarette use by minors as detailed in a report this month by the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report said some 3.6 million middle and high school students are using e-cigarettes, a 78 percent increase from the year before in e-cigarette use by high school students and a 48 percent jump by middle school students.
The proposal drew concerns Thursday from Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, a nonprofit group that advocates for what it calls sensible regulation.
"While decreasing youth usage of all nicotine products is a sound goal, such measures should not come at the expense of the health and lives of adult smokers," Conley said. "Multiple studies have shown that flavors in smoke-free nicotine products are critical to helping smokers quit."
The proposed legislation is supported by groups including the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association in California and the American Cancer Society Action Network.
"Menthol-, candy- and fruit-flavored tobacco products are a key part of the tobacco industry's strategy to bait youth into becoming tomorrow's addicts," said Tim Gibbs, a leader of the action network.
