Michigan became the first US state to ban flavored e-cigarette liquids and products in an attempt to prevent youth vaping.
According to the Washington Post, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she ordered the ban after the state health department found youth vaping constituted a public health emergency.

“Whitmer complained that e-cigarette companies are using sweet flavors, such as bubble gum and ‘fruit loops,’ to hook young people on nicotine, with potentially adverse consequences,” the Post reported.

The ban will also apply to mint and menthol flavors in e-cigarettes, but does not cover tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, according to the Washington Post.

In response, the American Thoracic Society issued a statement applauding the action. “Governor Whitmer’s decision is an appropriate response to the 215 recently reported cases of e-cigarette triggered acute illnesses that have resulted in hospitalization and in at least one case, death,” the statement said.

The ATS went on to blast the FDA’s failure to act on vaping.

“The decisive action is a stark contrast to the FDA’s reluctant response to the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. As of now, the the FDA has failed to take decisive or effective action to reduce youth access to e-cigarettes and vaping products. Further, the FDA has failed place limits on the child-luring flavors that are part of the vast majority of e-cigarette and vaping products,” the ATS said in their statement.