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Governor Charlie Baker said on Tuesday that he was facing an explosion of vaping-related illnesses in Massachusetts, banning the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts. The latest initiative – and perhaps even further – to deal with what the governor called a health emergency.
Baker, declaring the emergency, said the temporary ban would apply to both electronic cigarette sales of tobacco and marijuana.
His administration pointed out that the ban was a pause to allow the medical community and federal officials to learn about the causes of the outbreak, which were linked to nine deaths and 530 cases across the country. country. Massachusetts officials have reported 61 possible cases in the state this week, including among teenagers, up from 38 previously last week.
The ban takes effect immediately and lasts until January 25, 2020, according to Baker's office. The State Public Health Council is expected to meet and officially approve the ban this afternoon.
"The use of electronic cigarettes and marijuana vaping products is exploding and we are seeing cases of serious lung disease, particularly among our young people," Baker said in a statement on Tuesday. "The purpose of this public health emergency is to temporarily suspend all sales of vaping products so that we can work with our medical experts to identify what makes people sick and how to better regulate these products to protect the health of our patients." residents. "
The decision to ban all vaping products seems to go further than what other states have to do to fight the outbreak of cases. Earlier this month, New York and Michigan banned the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and in June, San Francisco became the first major city in the country to ban the distribution or sale of electronic cigarettes.
At the local level, Mayor Martin J. Walsh proposed regulation in Boston to help reduce youth vaping emissions by limiting the purchase of nicotine mint and menthol products.
Baker said last week that he was evaluating emergency options regarding the sale of vaping products, and told reporters Monday that the spread of lung-related diseases was holding all of the attention of l & # 39; administration.
The administration also questions the opportunity to file other regulations or laws, according to his office.
State legislators are already proposing separate bills banning all flavored tobacco products, including the liquid used in electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices. This prohibition, which proponents claim is the largest in the country, would apply to all flavors, including menthol, mint and wintergreen, which to date have often been exempted from aromas on the grounds that they are "grown-ups". " flavors.
Matt Stout is available at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@mattpstout.
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