Statewide Ban On Flavored Vaping Products Begins Thursday

SEATTLE, WA — Following an executive order issued by the governor in late September, the state Board of Health voted Wednesday to enact an emergency ban on the sale of flavored vapor products. The ban goes into effect statewide on Thursday and prohibits selling all flavored vapes, including those containing THC. A draft version of the rule also requires vape store owners to post warning signs about the risks of developing severe lung illnesses.

According to CDC numbers, more than one thousand lung disease cases have been tied to vaping nationwide, with at least 18 deaths reported. In Washington State, the Department of Health is aware of seven cases. At the hearing in Seattle on Wednesday, health officials said five of those cases involved patients between 10 and 29 years old..

While no specific ingredient or chemical has been identified as causing lung disease, health officials say there is no mechanism in place to know exactly what people are ingesting or what the long-term health effects might be.

At Wednesday's hearing, several vape users, store owners and manufacturers showed up to speak out against the ban. KOMO News spoke to a man who said people were often getting sick from using off-market products and that legitimate businesses were being unfairly singled out. Q13 News captured footage of a man calling the hearing "laughable" and "one-sided" prior to the vote.

The latest Healthy Youth Survey says vape use among eighth-graders in Washington has increased by 69 percent since 2016. Health officials cited national data showing young people were far more likely to use flavored e-cigarettes.

The emergency ban will last for 120 days, but the state will likely pursue permanent rules. After signing the executive order requesting the ban in September, Gov. Jay Inslee pledged to push for further regulations in the next legislative session. The Department of Health continues to investigate the lung disease outbreak and asks healthcare providers to report all suspected cases.