On Oct. 1, 2019, Los Angeles county’s board of supervisors voted unanimously to ban flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and menthol cigarettes. The board also called on California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom to pass a statewide ban on vaping, brought on by the growing number of vaping-related lung illnesses. According to a report by USA Today, more than 100 California residents who vape have experienced some form of the vaping related lung illness.
“As the number of vaping-related deaths and hospitalizations climb, and as more states have taken steps to protect youth from the harmful effects of vaping products, we need to support our state leaders and ask then to step in to protect the public,” commented first district supervisor Hilda Solis.
According to Los Angeles’ department of public health director Barbara Ferrer, flavored tobacco products are a driving force behind the rising number of youth who vape. She also said that flavored tobacco products can encourage experimentation and lead to lifelong addiction.
