A New Bill In Colorado Wants To Ban All Flavored Nicotine Products
The bill was introduced by Rep Yadira Caraveo of Denver
A bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers introduced a measure to ban all flavored nicotine products in an effort to combat the state’s top-in-the-nation teen vaping rate.
“Colorado is facing a vaping epidemic,” said co-sponsor Rep. Yadira Caraveo, (D-Denver), who is a pediatrician. “I’ve had children as young as 11-years-old in clinic talk to me about how their classmates use vape products in school.”
She said banning flavored products will reduce the number of children and teenagers that become addicted to nicotine.
The bill also bans all flavored traditional tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and chews, and imposes fines for retailers who violate the terms of the measure.
Doctors and public health officials say flavored vaping products — with names like Apple Cinnamon Donut, Blazberry Cream, Cotton Dandy and Pink Lemonade — have helped hook a whole new generation of young people on tobacco. The rise of vaping comes after years of smoking rates falling steadily, both broadly and just among teens.
But opponents, including some vape shops and consumers, argue a ban penalizes adults who like flavors and have used flavored products to quit smoking traditional cigarettes.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration backed off a full flavor ban, instead banning most flavored e-cigarette cartridges. Federal law still allows the sale of menthol and tobacco flavors, and flavored liquid nicotine if it is sold in open tank (or refillable) products.
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