Trump’s administration recently came out with a statement outlining the danger of vapes and it mentioned how they intend to ban the sale of flavored vapes.

This statement originated from health officials who were arguing against vapes after the death of six individuals who used vaping products as well as an immense rise in vaping among teens. This plan, however, is not the appropriate solution and is an overreaction to the vaping epidemic.

Underage vaping is already illegal. Putting more restrictions on it will not prevent kids from picking up the habit.
It is very foolish to think that every high school kid will stop vaping once it has been established.

In fact, Virginia made a similar attempt to end teenage vaping that only made matters worse. They raised the smoking age to 21 and all it did was create even more of a black market for kids seeking to buy vape products and in turn, made it more dangerous.

Another aspect we should keep in mind is the lessons we learned from the Prohibition. The Prohibition badly failed in the 1920s because desperate citizens without their alcohol found ways to bypass the law.

This same principle has been developing over vapes. Both substances are “staples” to America and in both cases, people will continue to use it no matter what the law says.

Banning the safest way to use this substance would only drive people to an underground market. Underground markets are unreliable and that is what puts teens at risk.

In fact, what killed those six kids was not a normal FDA approved vape juice, but a fake THC oil imported from China. All of the recent vaping deaths have not been nicotine related. This makes Trump’s recent proposal all the more unnecessary.

Another reason why the ban is unnecessary is that vaping has helped lots of people stop smoking. The introduction of JUULs and other vapes may have caused a new generation to pick up a habit, but it has helped an older one stop.
In the 1960s to 1970s, everyone was smoking until the masses were stricken with lung cancer and other severe lung diseases. It was then that we realized inhaling smoke might not be so great for your body.

Death is a great motivator, but in some cases, addiction seems immovable. The only escape from cancer for the heavy smoker is vaping.

Of course vaping is still bad, but recent studies have confirmed that vaping is the lesser of the two evils.
It is the government’s job to do what is best for the public and banning the easiest way to avoid a deadly disease is a step in the wrong direction.