|
 Cuomo said vaping was dangerous and that he was concerned fruit- and
candy-flavored e-cigarettes were leading young people to get hooked
on nicotine.
"These are obviously targeted to young people and highly effective
at targeting young people," the Democratic governor said at a news
conference in Manhattan.
Nearly 400 people around the country have been stricken with a lung
illness that is potentially vaping-related, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six have died.
Investigators are still trying to understand what causes the
illnesses. Meanwhile, health officials have warned people against
buying vaping products on the street or using marijuana-derived oil.
They have said people should avoid inhaling vitamin E acetate, an
ingredient found in some vaping products.
In New York, the state's health commissioner, Howard Zucker, will
formally ban flavored e-cigarettes besides tobacco and menthol
during an emergency meeting of the state's Public Health and Health
Planning Council this week, Cuomo said.
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Under state law, the council can vote to issue or amend certain
regulations affecting public health.
New York would be only the second state in the nation to introduce
such a ban. Michigan did so earlier this month. On Wednesday, the
Trump administration announced plans to remove all flavored
e-cigarettes from store shelves.
Sales of e-cigarettes are banned in New York to people under 18
years old, an age that will rise to 21 in November. Cuomo said he
has told state police to increase enforcement against sales to
underage people.
(Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Paul Simao)
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