Bans on the sale of flavored e-liquid continue in the United States. But in Utah, authorities are taking a new approach. Flavored e-juice will be banned from sale. But not in vejpshoppes, which only sell e-cigarettes and accessories, reports TV station 02 KUTV
"A growing body of evidence points to the vejping of unregulated THC juices being behind the large outbreak of lung disease in recent times" says Dr. Joseph Myner at the Utah Department of Health. "Young people in particular have been affected and we know that many young people start by vejpa with flavored nicotine before they start using THC products."
He believes that vejpshoppar, which has a significantly better age control than, for example, gas stations, regular convenience stores and supermarkets, should be the only stores where flavored e-juice can be sold, at least for a limited period.
"By shifting the sale of nicotine-containing flavored e-juices to specialty stores, we will reduce the number of young users who later switch to THC use" says Joseph Myner.
In Utah, 71 people have fallen ill with the disease caused by improperly manufactured e-juice containing cannabis mixed with the substance e-acetate which forms oil when heated. E-acetate is used exclusively in THC juices sold cheaply on black market in the United States. E-acetate does not exist in regulated THC juice or regular e-juice with nicotine (or without).
The authorities are also helping vejp shoppers in other ways. Shops are required to clearly inform their customers of the dangers of taking vejp uncontrolled THC products, including through mandatory signs at the entrance.
"One of our best tools to tackle this outbreak is communication. It is a top priority to communicate directly to the group most at risk of developing the disease" says Ryan Bartlett who works with tobacco control at the health authorities, to TV station 02 KUTV
The sudden outbreak of lung disease, which is not linked to regular e-cigarettes but to unregulated THC juice, has so far affected 800 people in the US. 13 deaths have been reported.
