The quick rise in popularity of e-cigarettes among the youth has become a problem for President Donald J. Trump and his administration. The fruity flavor and scent of some of these e-cigarettes could have been a contributing factor to its popularity. More discreet designs could have also made it easier for teens to use e-cigarettes without the knowledge of their parents or authority figures in schools.
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Protecting The Children
President Donald J. Trump spoke to the public last Tuesday to address some of the health concerns of e-cigarettes and how these will shape his administration's policies.
The president said that "...we'll be taking it off - the (fruity) flavors - for a period of time..."
The president cites the motivators of this move: "We're going to protect our families, we're going to protect our children, and we're going to protect the industry."
However, the president also reassured industry stakeholders that this ban might only be temporary. "Hopefully, if everything's safe, they're going to be going very quickly back onto the market," says Trump. He added that he thinks these flavors will soon return to the market as soon as "exhaustive examinations" would permit these products to be produced and sold again to the public.
Menthol Only
Trump's comments followed an article published last Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources who are more familiar with the matter. The ban is said to come as early as this Friday, which will cover all non-menthol, non-tobacco flavored pod e-cigarettes. This ban also includes mint cartridges for e-cigarettes, the journal reports.
However, this ban will not extend to any flavors for tank vaping systems.
The specific ban on pod e-cigarettes may have been done to discourage the youth from using such products. Unlike tank vaping systems that hold a larger capacity of vape juice - and are therefore much larger and more conspicuous - pods are less obvious. Its appearance could be made to resemble a USB, making it hard to detect when not in use.
Reaching a Compromise
Different camps have visited the White House last month to debate on the merits and dangers of e-cigarettes, especially towards the youth. Medical and family groups argue against all flavors of e-cigarettes, citing its health risks and its addictive properties, especially with the fruity-flavored e-cigarettes.
Meanwhile, conservatives point out that a total ban of the product would lead to the closure of shops, loss of jobs, and a negative impact on the economy.
The FDA's decision to ban only fruity flavors of pod cigarettes - the most widely used by the youth - may be a compromise to satisfy family groups and the conservatives at the same time.
After all, President Trump concluded that meeting in the White House saying that he wanted to "do something for everybody, where everybody's happy."
Whatever the outcome of this policy will be will surely have an impact on President Trump's re-election bid. However, these policies will surely affect everyone during the next few years, regardless of President Trump is still in power.
