The MLA for Kamloops South has tabled a private members bill seeking to address what he calls an emerging public health crisis impacting youth in vaping and e-cigarettes.
Todd Stone says vaping and e-cigarette use among middle and high school age children is exploding.
“Recent studies are suggesting over 30% of kids in grades 10 to 12 in middle and high schools right across British Columbia are engaging in vaping at some point during the school week. That is completely unacceptable. The usage is growing far faster than tobacco use. As a father of three kids, two of whom are in the midst of this emerging public health crisis, I can see first hand the impact that this is having on our kids.”
Stone says his bill would seek to restrict the sale of vaping and E-cigarette devices to adult only tobacco and vaping stores as well as cranking up fines for non-compliance.
“Because these vape products are very small in size they are easy to conceal. There is no noticeable odour. Also because the juice that goes in them comes in a whole wide range of kid friendly flavours like bubble gum, and gummy bear, and so forth. First and foremost we want to attack that attractiveness and the best way to do that we think is to ban the flavouring of this vape juice outright.”
He says if his bill passes there is only so much the province can regulate and the federal government also needs to act.
“Definitely think the federal government needs to take another long hard look at advertising, and packaging restrictions, and promotions the ability to do promotions inside of retail outlets. We are also hearing that a lot of our kids are receiving these products online. The online world when it comes to vaping is very much the wild west still and that is an area where the federal government could do a heck of a lot more to crack down.”
In Question Period Stone asked Health Minister Adrian Dix to act on the issue.
In an unusually congenial exchange Dix replied he is willing to work with Stone on his concerns and is “very interested” in the idea of banning flavoured vaping juices.