ATLANTA — The issue of vaping is now back on the agenda as President Donald Trump has reportedly scheduled a new meeting on Friday with advocates and leaders in the industry.
This comes more than two months after his administration promised a ban on flavored vape products. That has not happened so far.
Public health groups expressed concern that the Trump administration had changed its mind on banning flavored vape products because it could cost President Trump votes.
That came after the promised action seemed to stop in early November and a previously scheduled meeting was canceled.
Critics of the products have raised concerns that fruity and sweet flavors target kids and teens, leading them to believe the products are safe. Advocates argue vaping helps adults to quit smoking traditional cigarettes.
Now, according to a report in USA TODAY, the White House said we'll see a restart on the proposed flavor ban. The meeting will include advocates, non-profit groups, medical associations, state officials and representatives from the vaping industry.
They're set to discuss the use of e-cigarettes by kids and possible regulations. The White House said the meeting will give President Trump and others in his administration a chance to hear from all sides as they work to develop guidelines to protect public health.
The meeting will take place as the number of people dying or suffering from severe lung illnesses linked to vaping continues to rise.
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still releasing weekly updates on the number of cases of lung-related illnesses tied to vaping.
Right now, the agency reports 2,172 people who have become sick and 42 who have died. Three of those deaths were in Georgia. The CDC has linked the lung injuries to vitamin E acetate, used to thicken or dilute THC oil in vape cartridges. THC is the ingredient in cannabis that creates the feeling of being high.
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