By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – There are mixed reactions in Illinois to what appears to be President Donald Trump’s reversal on banning flavored e-cigarette products.
In September, following a rash of lung injuries and deaths, Trump announced the proposed ban. The Washington Post reports this week Trump’s reelection campaign saw the outpouring of opposition to the proposed ban and may be reversing course.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said the president is breaking a promise and the reversal will harm children with addiction and lung problems.
“Now there are reports that President Trump has decided to reverse himself to break the promise that he made to American families as a direct result of lobbying from big tobacco and big vape companies,” Durbin said on the Senate floor Tuesday.
Jon Sharp, manager of Springfield vape shop Upper Limits, said the reversal will save thousands of jobs.
“That’s good news, not just for small business but it’s good news for smokers looking to quit and vapers who are currently vaping not to smoke, that’s just good policy to me,” Sharp said.
But a flavor ban is still possible in Illinois. A measure at the statehouse to do that also included banning flavored tobacco like menthol cigarettes or flavored chewing tobacco, but the tobacco element was removed at the last minute. Sharp said that’s baffling.
“Can you even imagine that, a group of lawmakers getting together to protect big tobacco,” Sharp said. “I just can’t even wrap my head around that, to be honest. It’s insane.”
Opponents of Illinois moving on a ban by itself say it would just push consumers either to other states or to the illicit marketplace for unregulated products.
There’s been a major development from the CDC since the rash of lung injuries and deaths were reported. Tony Abboud with Vaping Technology Association shared with an Illinois Senate Committee those findings.
“[The CDC’s] investigation has found this vitamin E acetate that is in THC and cannabis products, particularly black market products, as being the culprit,” Abboud said.
State Sen. Napoleon Harris, D-Harvey, acknowledged banning flavors in Illinois could increase the problems.
“I don’t know if this is going to curtail everything that it wants to in that manner because I think it opens up an illicit market in another way,” Harris said. “Most kids want what they cannot have. We’ve all been there before.”
The measure advanced out of committee but was not brought for a full vote before the legislature ended fall session. They’re back in Springfield in late January.
Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported a fourth death in Illinois linked with vaping.
“More than 80% of the cases in Illinois report recent use of THC-containing products, primarily obtaining them from informal sources,” the department said.
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