R Street Institute statement on ban of flavored e-cigarettes in Michigan
“A flavor ban aimed to curb youth use of e-cigarettes should be considered counter to the goals of public health,” R Street Director of Harm Reduction Carrie Wade said on Wednesday. “Flavors have been shown to be integral in the process of moving away from combustible cigarettes for adult smokers looking to switch to safer alternatives. Furthermore, it has not been demonstrated that a flavor ban of e-cigarettes will prevent minors from obtaining and experimenting with tobacco products, including far more dangerous products like combustible cigarettes.”
Rather than ban flavored e-cigarettes, which are instrumental in helping smokers move away from combustible cigarettes, R Street urges Michigan to enforce current sales restrictions aimed to protect minors and enact a statewide 21-to-purchase standard for nicotine products.
