A bill banning flavored e-cigarettes that the San Diego City Council recently voted to approve has been signed into law.
The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Marni von Wilpert, bans flavored e-cigarettes and tobacco products, with the exception of premium flavored cigars, flavored loose leaf tobacco and water pipes. Vapourless or tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes and FDA-approved smoking cessation devices are also exempt.
Mayor Todd Gloria signed the ban into law last week. "This new law will save lives and protect the health of children," von Wilpert said. "Our new partnership with San Diego Schools will provide an important health resource for parents, so we're doing everything we can to prevent Big Tobacco from seducing our children and hijacking their futures."
Meanwhile, renowned cardiologist and smoking cessation researcher Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos recently reiterated that e-cigarette flavors are crucial in helping smokers switch to safer nicotine alternatives.
Researchers recently published "Flavor Case for Reducing Tobacco Harm, Saving Lives," a paper detailing the link between flavored nicotine products and success in quitting smoking. The report stresses that the ultimate flavor ban is a form of prohibition that will only fuel the growth of a massive black market and lead to higher smoking rates as many e-cigarette users switch to smoking.
In a recent episode of Regulator Watch discussing the report, Farsalinos discussed health Canada's recent proposed ban, saying their case for such a ban may be collapsing as evidence continues to show its potential negative impact on public health.