Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said on Tuesday he would request the Public Health Council to order a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products in the state.
Baker made the announcement at a press conference where he said he was declaring a public health emergency in connection with vaping-related lung illnesses.
Hundreds of cases of the illness have been reported nationwide. Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel this month ordered all cases to be reported directly to the Department of Public Health for the next year.
"We as a Commonwealth need to pause sales in order for our medical experts to collect more information about what is driving these life-threatening vaping-related illnesses," Baker said.
61 cases of vaping-associated lung illness have been reported to Mass DPH. Three confirmed cases and two probable cases have been reported to the CDC so far. Gov. Baker's vaping sale ban -- retail and online -- will take effect immediately, and run thru Jan. 2020. #mapoli
— Katie Lannan (@katielannan) September 24, 2019
— Katie Lannan (@katielannan) September 24, 2019
"I am in favor of outlawing flavored vaping, tobacco, you know anything. That is just targeting our kids. There's no reason to have candy cotton-flavored, whatever, without targeting our kids." - Senate President Spilka on @wgbh
— State House News (@statehousenews) September 24, 2019
The temporary ban will apply to flavored and non-flavored vaping products, Baker said.
During a radio interview earlier Tuesday, Senate President Karen Spilka said, "This is a public health crisis."
Trump administration officials earlier this month announced plans to remove flavored e-cigarette products from the market.
This report was originally published by State House News Service.
