Massachusetts governor calls for harshest anti-vaping ban in U.S.
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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a statewide public health emergency on Tuesday and called for a 4-month ban on all vaping products, AP reports.
Why it matters: This is the farthest-reaching ban yet by any state, as it is the only restriction in the country that forbids all vaping products. Massachusetts' ban also goes beyond President Trump's proposal to pull all flavored e-cigarette cartridges from the market, leaving just the tobacco flavor, in an effort to discourage youth vaping.
The big picture: The CDC reported 1,080 possible cases of severe respiratory illnesses among people who vaped nicotine or cannabis products as of Oct. 1. At least 18 people have died from vaping-related lung illnesses as of Oct. 4.
- New York's proposed 90-day ban on the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes was temporarily blocked in state court this week.
- Michigan imposed a similar ban for 6 months earlier in September.
Details: Massachusetts' ban will take effect immediately and last through Jan. 5, 2020.
- Health officials in the state began mandating the collection of data on electronic cigarettes and vaping earlier this month, AP reports.
- The state has also 3 confirmed and 2 likely cases of pulmonary disease related to vaping. At least 61 cases of respiratory illnesses related have been reported to the state health department and are awaiting further analysis. That's a jump from 38 cases reported as of last week, according to the Boston Globe.
Go deeper: U.S. investigates fatality from vaping as lung-related illnesses rise
Editor's note: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that 18 people have died from a vaping-related lung illnesses.