93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
The Columbia City Council says it wants more info in the next several months from the board calling for a temporary stop to sales of flavored e-cigarette products.
The Columbia-Boone County Board of Health asked for the immediate ban, until it could draw up an ordinance restricting the products.
University of Missouri Dr. Kevin Everett says youth vaping has soared, and many kids first get hooked on tobacco through flavored products.
“Many in the scientific community had an open mind that these products could be an answer to the deadliest of all types of tobacco products, cigarettes. And I’m concerned that’s not the case.”
The proposed ban ran into a skeptical city council as it received the health board’s report on Monday night. Members pointed out there is already a ban on tobacco sales in Columbia if you’re younger than 21. Councilman Michael Trapp says youth vaping is a real problem, but he’s not sure this is the solution.
“I want to see more, if I could sum it up. I want to see a detailed report that digs into the facts and the science before we make a move legislatively.”
Trapp says a ban may just boost black market youth vaping. Mayor Brian Treece says he wants to see more state and federal research before making a move.
“We’ve already banned these products for persons under the age of 21. I don’t understand how banning adults from accessing otherwise legal products is going to make this problem any better,” Treece says.
Smart call Mayor Treece. We can’t treat it any differently than cigarettes at this point. I personally think it’s not good at all, but we need the research to back it up.