E-Cig Flavors Remain Controversial

ALBANY, N.Y.— New York's emergency ban on flavored e-cigarettes remains tied up in court, but the state's Public Health and Health Planning Council has voted to keep it alive in case the court rules against the ban, reports U.S. News and World Report.

The council approved the ban in September, and it was set to expire this month, but council members want to keep it on the books for another 90 days. In October, a state appeals court temporarily blocked New York from enforcing the ban on sales of flavored e-cigarettes after the vaping industry sued. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the vote to keep it alive would make sure New York has the emergency regulation on the books if the ban is upheld.

“While our scheduled enforcement of this ban has been delayed by pending litigation, we are confident that the court will agree that this is a public health emergency demanding immediate action to help ensure the wellbeing of our children," said spokeswoman Jill Montag.

In nearby Massachusetts, marijuana stores may soon resume the sale of vaping products. Last week, NACS Daily reported that the state has approved new regulations regarding vape products and will only allow the sale of newly manufactured items that have been tested for contaminants, such as vitamin E acetate and heavy metals.

Manufacturers will be required to list the ingredients in vape cartridges, including thickening and thinning agents, additives and terpenes. Marijuana stores will be able to sell cannabis flower vaporizers and vape pens, as long as the latter do not contain any cannabis concentrate.

Shawn Collins, the commission’s executive director, said that investigating the mysterious vape-related lung illnesses has been a “moving target,” as health officials learn more about what is in the products. The commission may need to revise its current policies as more information becomes available.