Governors Hold Anti-Vaping Summit

By MICHELE VELEZ

A group of Northeast Governors held a summit in a Midtown hotel on Thursday to reach solutions and present a united front in the face of the vaping and cannabis crisis happening across state lines.

“This is a very important topic, and it is probably one of the most challenging issues that I’ve had to address in the state of New York,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of the vaping crisis.” It is complicated, it is controversial, and it consequential.”

After a closed meeting New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfe joined Cuomo agreeing to restrict packaging and prohibit advertisingthat targets youth, restricting the sale of products to adults 21 and over and strict penalties on licensees that sell to youth.

One of the bigger concerns across states was the use of E-cigarette among young people. According to Governor Cuomo’s office, the use of electronic cigarettes within high schools in 2018 was 78% higher than it was in 2017. The leaders all agreed to back bans on flavored vape products and restrictions on advertising to ensure products are not targeted to minors.

The regional governors also were joined by representative and legislative leaders from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Colorado.

“These actions will be strengthened and magnified when we know there is a similar strategic approach in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and other states,” said Murphy.

Photo by Michelle Velez