A couple of Democratic lawmakers in the state of Tennessee, Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Darren Jernigan, have introduced a new bill that, if passed, would raise both the smoking age and vaping age in the state from 18 to 19 years old.
According to Dimitris Agrafiotis of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association (TSFA), there’s “no reason” to raise the age requirement to buy vaping products in the state. By his account, simply raising the age requirement and increasing taxes doesn’t work for these types of products.
The Tennessee Smoke Free Association, advocates of vaping, believe that “the best approach to stop youth smoking and vaping is at the point of sale,” Agrafiotis was quoted by local news outlet WBIR 10 News as having said.
“It seems to me that it’s appealing some of the health groups who have been advocating to push a higher age, but we know just increasing the age and taxes simply don’t work for these products now (…) We feel the best approach to stop youth smoking and vaping is at the point of sale”
State Senator Richard Briggs, a Republican who is not only a politician, but a doctor as well, indicated that by his account, “it’s absolutely a misconception that vaping is safe.” He added that he can’t help but wonder what long-term effects, if any, that vaping might have.
Meanwhile, a recently published study, a 24-month clinical trial which examined 209 volunteer smokers using typical electronic cigarettes over the course of 2-years, found no adverse health impacts as a result of long-term vaping.
The study, which was funded by Fontem Ventures B.V., was published in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Notably, Fontem Ventures, a division of Imperial Brands, owns the Blu e-cigarette brand.
According to Agrafiotis, electronic cigarettes are helping citizens in Tennessee quit smoking, which is just one of the reasons–and perhaps a good one–why the state’s legislators should not take away the smoking cessation from the state’s 18-year-olds. In his opinion, the notion of restricting access to the state’s young adults is a “complete travesty” and such products should be “available for those who have tried the available methods to quit smoking and have failed in the past.”
“So not giving them the option to try a vapor product, which is must less harmful than regular smoking, is a complete travesty in my opinion. We should have these products available for those who have tried the available methods to quit smoking and have failed in the past”
What do you think of this new bill which aims to raise the legal age for buying vaping and tobacco products in the state? Chime in with your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.
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