The following is a statement from Speaker-designate Laurie Jinkins in response to Governor Inslee’s executive order issued earlier today.
I stand in support of the executive order issued by Governor Inslee today requesting the Board of Health* to adopt an emergency rule banning flavored vaping products. Seven Washingtonians have recently been injured from vaping products. Nationally, there have been more than 800 reported vaping-related lung injuries and 12 deaths. Many of these injuries affected children and I fear these numbers will continue to grow.
Like Big Tobacco before them, vaping and e-cigarette corporations have relied on a business strategy that targets youth to create a new generation of lifelong users. These dangerous practices must stop immediately.
I want to thank Governor Inslee, Attorney General Ferguson, Secretary Wiesman, and Rep. Pollet for their leadership in addressing this serious public health crisis. I look forward to working with them and my fellow lawmakers next session on legislative solutions to this problem.
* Updated from an earlier version that incorrectly listed Department of Health.