fundamental due process rights guaranteed to all
Americans.”
Announcing the vape ban, Massachusetts
Governor Charlie Baker said: “We will temporarily
pause all sales of vaping products so that we
can work with our medical experts to identify
what is making people sick and how to better
regulate these products to protect the health of
our residents.”
One of the plaintiffs Behram Agha, 40, from
Weymouth, Mass., said his four vape shops have
been shut down because of the ban leaving his 11
employees unpaid. He said he will run up $72,000
in operating expenses during the shutdown
during which time he will have no income from
the businesses.
Vape shop owners estimate that they are losing
around $4,000 to $5,000 per week for each store
that is closed.
Baker said he stood by the ban and said he was
prepared for the legal challenge adding: “Obviously
people have the ability to go to court if they wish
to and we’ll continue to make our case associated
with the public health issue on this.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
is currently investigating a spate of unexplained
lung illnesses throughout the country in which 18
people have died and a further 1,080 have been
injured.
Meanwhile Washington Governor Jay Inslee has
called for the state to impose an emergency ban
on all flavoured vaping products, including those
that contain nicotine and THC.
The state’s board of health was due to meet on
October 9 to discuss the ban which Inslee sees as
the fi rst step towards more stringent regulation.
Inslee said: “I wanted to go further than this, but I
followed our existing statutory authority. We aren’t
done in this discussion. What I’m doing with this
executive order is a floor, not a ceiling.”
Matthew Myers, president of the advocacy group
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, supported the
move saying: “The time is now to end the youth
e-cigarette epidemic, and Gov. Inslee’s call for
prohibiting flavoured e-cigarettes is exactly what
we need.
“The recent spate of serious lung illnesses
associated with e-cigarette use has added to the
urgency of acting now to protect our kids and,
indeed, the health of all Americans.”
“This ban is a
death sentence.
Vape store
owners will
be put out of
business and
they are trying
to figure out
what to tell their
families and
employees.”
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