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California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday a crackdown on illegal electronic cigarettes and plans to launch a public awareness campaign about the dangers of devices in the context of a serious epidemic of lung disease related to vaporization.
Newsom's executive actions call on state regulators to "reduce youth vaping consumption" by finding ways to ban illegal and counterfeit vaping products.
The Democratic Governor also set aside $ 20 million for a vaping awareness campaign and tasked state health authorities with developing warning signs for retailers' vaping and advertising of cigarettes. electronic devices and their accessories.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report at least six deaths and 450 possible cases of serious airway-related diseases in the country since the first cases were reported in April. Public health officials have urged people to stop vaping until they can determine the cause of the disease.
"We must take immediate action to address the urgency of the public health crisis and the youth epidemic," Newsom said in a statement Monday. "As a parent, I understand the anxiety caused by misleading marketing tactics and flavored options designed to target our kids. With mysterious lung diseases and an increasing number of deaths, we must educate our children and do everything in our power to deal with this crisis. "
Newsom has pledged to work with California lawmakers to develop an "energetic tobacco reform program" when legislators return in 2020.
The action of the governor intervenes a few days after the adjournment of the legislature for the year without following up on a draft law of the Assembly, Adam Gray (D-Merced), allegedly increased fines for anyone who sells tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, to people under 21 years of age. Gray has decided to postpone the action on his measure until next year to be able to add a tax to the bill, a spokesman said.
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) had previously proposed banning the sale of most flavored tobacco products for electronic cigarettes, arguing that they were attracting underage users, but he abandoned his plan to law when it was reduced by a legislative committee.
Health groups, including the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network have blamed the disappearance of legislation for an intense lobbying campaign by tobacco companies. In July, the network had released a report stating that the tobacco industry had paid more than $ 2.2 million in campaign contributions to state officials since 2014.
According to the governor's office, about 11% of California high school students reported using e-cigarettes and more than 80% of students who reported using tobacco products used a spray device.
The governor's office has attributed the increase in the number of young vapers to use by flavored tobacco companies and to advertising and marketing campaigns targeting youth.
Last week, President Trump said his government was planning to ban steamed products containing sweet and fruity aromas because of growing concerns about the health risks caused by electronic cigarettes and cigarettes. increased consumption by adolescents.
"People are dying of vaping," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House. "We must discover the extent of the problem.
The Food and Drug Administration has already started developing plans to ban all flavored electronic cigarettes until the manufacturer of each vaping product receives government approval.
Earlier this month, Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer took steps to make her state the first in the country to ban flavored electronic cigarettes. Whitmer has accused vaping companies of using candy flavors and misleading advertising to "hook kids" to nicotine.
Patrick McGreevy, Times Editor, contributed to this report.
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