The American Medical Association has called for a ban with immediate effect on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on Tuesday.
The association took a swift policy-making stance meeting in San Diego citing the hazards that a surge in underage teen use of e-cigarettes, which typically heat a solution that contains nicotine.
“It’s simple, we must keep nicotine products out of the hands of young people.” Dr. Patrice Harris, AMA’s president, said in a statement.
The group, AMA said that recent outbreak of lung illnesses in US linked to vaping.
The doctors said most of those sickened said they inhale THC, the high-inducing ingredient in marijuana, not nicotine. Officials believe a thickening agent used in black market THC inhaling products may be a culprit.
The medical association group has previously sought bans on e-cigarette flavors and ads.
According to President of the American Vaping Association, Gregory Conley, a pro-vaping advocacy group, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said “it’s focus is to ban the illicit THC oil cartridges sold by drug dealers”.
“It would be a mistake for adult smokers and their families to listen to these misguided prohibitionists, as the evidence continues to indicate that adult smokers who switch to nicotine vaping products greatly improve their health,” Conley said.
The AMA policy calls for a ban of vaping products not approved to help people quit. But so far, none have been reviewed or approved for that use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Some observers say that in US, very little chance of ban on these products can be achieved.
It is worth noting here that E-cigarettes first appeared in the U.S. more than a decade ago and have grown in popularity despite little research on their long-term effects.
