by M.L. Schultze, WKSU
Akron City Council has again delayed a vote on whether to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The debate centered on e-cigarettes, which are growing in popularity among young people.
Much of the testimony to council’s public health committee Monday focused on vaping, and a preliminary request by the industry to be exempt from the higher age-limit. Dr. Norman Christopher, a pediatrician and board member of the American Heart Association, says despite marketing campaigns, e-cigarettes include many of the same carcinogens as other tobacco products, as well as addictive nicotine.
“It is a reasonable assumption that if vaping products are excluded from Tobacco21 legislation, that the industry would intensify its efforts to market vaping products as a safe alternative to the under 21 population," he testified.
Tamiyka Rose is Akron’s health equity ambassador and wants to ensure e-cigarettes are included.
“It is not regulated by the FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and we don’t have any studies about what the long-term effect of vaping truly is," she said.
Cleveland and Columbus both have adopted the Tobacco21 legislation. Under Akron’s proposed bill, enforcement would be up to the Summit County Health Department, and retailers could face civil fines after repeated violations.