Inslee Seeks Ban On Flavored Vapor Products By Executive Order

SEATTLE, WA — Pointing to seven cases of vaping-linked acute lung illnesses in Washington State, Governor Jay Inslee has issued an executive order directing state agencies to ban the sale of all flavored vapor products. At a Friday morning press conference in Seattle, Gov. Inslee underlined concerns that under-regulation has left the door wide open for tobacco companies to take advantage of children and hook them for life.

"It does not have to be this way," said Inslee.

Flanked by state health officials and Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Inslee assailed the makers of vaping products for offering flavors like bubblegum, raspberry and cinnamon as a way to entice underage users. While acknowledging that vaping can sometimes be used by adults as a smoking cessation tool, Inslee said the ingredients are virtually unregulated and there is no way to know for sure what is inside. The ban also includes flavored THC vapor products.

"It is the wild west out there and that's one reason we're having this health crisis," said Inslee.

Beyond the executive order, which directs the Department of Health to enact emergency rules, Gov. Inslee said he will push for a permanent ban in the next legislative session, seek to enact specific regulations and require companies disclose all of their ingredients. Still, the governor says, these are just the first steps.

"I wanted to do more by this executive order, I wanted to go further than this," said Inslee.

"It's a floor, not a ceiling."

Not everyone is thrilled. Things got testy toward the end of the press conference as vape shop owners argued with reporters and the governor, questioning why their products are being targeted over other, more deadly ones. Q13 News reporter Hana Kim posted video of some exchanges on social media:

The state Board of Health will take up the emergency rule at a meeting on October 9th. New York State issued a similar ban on flavored liquids this month, and the Trump administration has also expressed support for a federal action. A new Washington State law raising the minimum age for buying all tobacco products to 21 goes into effect January 1st, 2020.

Today's announcement follows hundreds of severe lung illnesses, reported nationally and here in Washington, that health officials have linked to vaping. Earlier this week, The Seattle Times reported a Puyallup tribal officer had filed the state's first vaping-related lawsuit. Back in August, King County Public Health issued an alert warning of the risks associated with vaping.

You can watch the whole press conference on TVW's website.