Governor signs executive order banning flavored E-Cigarettes

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PROVIDENCE, R.I (WLNE) – Governor Gina Raimondo officially signed an executive order that would ban the sale of flavored vaping products in the state for at least four months. 

This comes as lung illnesses that health officials say are related to vaping products are sweeping across the country.

Raimondo signed the executive order Wednesday afternoon, just one day after Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA) signed an order for an all-out ban on vaping products.

The order directs the Department of Health to begin the process of coming up with emergency regulations that will take flavored e-cigarettes off the shelves at all stores.

“These products are deliberately and specifically targeted to children, being used by children, and hurting children,” Raimondo said. “I’ve decided today it was time to take action.”

At the signing of the order, Raimondo showed reporters three separate packagings of flavored e-cig products that she said targets youth.

“It’s not right. I mean that looks like a cereal box,” she said.

In the order is states “it is the policy of the State to keep all Rhode islanders safe from injury, protect youth and other vulnerable populations from unintended harms, promote community health, and establish supportive environments that empower freedom from addiction.”

According to the executive order, electronic nicotine-delivery system or ENDS products are heavily and aggressively marketed in Rhode Island and across the country. 

This includes marketing that promotes flavored ENDS products to youth. “Many ENDS products are colorfully packaged and available in flavors that appeal to the tastes and interest of young people, including the approximately 70% of teenagers shopping at convenience stores who are routinely exposed to such retail advertising at least once a week.”

Raimondo hinted at a possible ban on Tuesday, prompting vape shop owners and users from across the state to protest outside the State House against the ban that went into effect later on in the day.

“The reality is, a move like this could put every vape shop in Rhode Island out of business in a very short period of time,” said Mike Runshe, owner of Giant Vapes in East Providence.

Meanwhile, other shop owners like Jesse Killeen and his wife Donna, are outraged and emotional, knowing that even a temporary ban could put them out of business.

“We got college tuitions, we got mortgages, just the rent on this building alone,” said Killeen, owner of the Juice Box in North Smithfield. “You stop me for four months I can’t recoup after that.”

And with a flavor ban, Killeen believes it makes no sense.

“Banning flavors? Like I said I can go in a liquor store right now and go buy cotton candy vodka,” he said.

Users also taking a hit with the ban. Ron Noel lives in Worcester but works in Rhode Island.

After Gov. Baker signed the order in Massachusetts, he had to restock in Rhode Island.

Noel said he bought way more than he usually does.

“I bought what I could with what I had on me. It’s not payday otherwise I would’ve bought more,” Noel said. “Nobody really had a chance to prepare.”

When it comes to flavored products, Noel said it’s the reason why he quit smoking traditional cigarettes.

“Adults like flavors too. I mean why would I want to go from smoking tobacco to something that tastes like tobacco,” he said.

Vape shop owners are adamant that the products they sell are safe for users, and blame homemade THC vaping cartridges for the lung illnesses sweeping across the country.

The Department of Health said once the emergency regulations are put into effect, flavored e-cig products could be off the shelves by early next week.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019