+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Trump defended keeping flavored-e-cigarettes legal in a recent White House meeting despite his previously proposed ban

Nov 23, 2019, 19:56 IST

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a listening session on youth vaping and the electronic cigarette epidemic inside the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2019.Tom Brenner/Reuters

Advertisement
  • President Donald Trump appeared to soften his position on banning flavored e-cigarettes during a meeting with vaping and tobacco-industry leaders on Friday.
  • According to multiple reports, he warned that flavored vapes would "come here illegally" if they are removed from stores.
  • Trump announced a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in September. He told reporters that himself and First Lady Melania Trump felt very strongly about the potential effect of vaping on children including their teenager Barron.
  • But after pushback from political advisers, Trump stalled the ban on concern that such a policy would alienate some voters ahead of the 2020 elections, The New York Times recently reported.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump appeared to soften his stance on banning flavored electronic cigarettes Friday, warning that removing them from stores would breed a black market.

"If you don't give it to them, it is going to come here illegally," Trump said during a meeting with vaping industry leaders according to the Washington Post.

"They could be selling something on a street corner that could be horrible. They are going to have a flavor that is poison."

Trump announced a ban on non-tobacco flavored vapes on Sept. 11 and expressed concern for the health of "kids" including his teenager Barron. But last week, he reportedly stalled plans to implement this policy on concern that it would alienate some voters ahead of the 2020 elections.

Advertisement

The Friday meeting at the White House resembled a public policy version of "The Apprentice," during which industry and government representatives occasionally shouted at each other in order to persuade Trump, the Post reported.

Trump showed his support for a pending law that would raise the federal minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21. But health groups argued that the move, dubbed Tobacco 21, would not sufficiently address the rise of teen vaping, according to the Post.

Health advocates also "objected loudly" when some vaping advocates appeared to downplay the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young people, the Post reported. They pointed to federal data that show more than 5 million teens vaped within the last month.

Representatives from e-cigarette makers including NJOY and Reynolds American argued that flavors were not the problem. They put forward alternatives to a ban including ending online sales and limiting ads, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The debate on what to do about vaping is not confined to the White House. On Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate passed a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products including menthol cigarettes. And, the New York City Council is expected to vote on a similar policy next week.

Advertisement

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 47 deaths and nearly 2,300 lung injuries associated with the use of e-cigarettes as of November 21.

NOW WATCH: What if all the world's supervolcanoes erupted at once

You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article