During his first term, Trump had initially set to restrict flavoured vape sales but following a round table meeting with public-health experts and industry representatives he eventually opted for a more sensible approach.
As part of the 2024 presidential campaigns, Donald Trump has promised to protect flavoured vaping products if re-elected, emphasizing that his past actions helped adult smokers switch from cigarettes. He criticizes Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for supporting broader bans that
harm small businesses. In a September 20 post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated, “I saved flavoured vaping in 2019, and it greatly helped people get off smoking. I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the ‘kids.’ Kamala and Joe want everything banned, killing small businesses all over the country. I’ll save vaping again.”
During his first term, Trump had initially set to restrict flavoured vape sales but following a round table meeting with public-health experts and industry representatives he eventually opted for a more sensible approach. Instead of passing a comprehensive flavour ban, he raised the age limit to purchase the products to 21, banned sweet and fruity flavoured vape pods and cartridges while allowing the sale of menthol products at gas stations and convenience stores.
Moreover, vape shops were allowed to continue selling a variety of flavours for open-tank systems. This move was of course welcomed not only by the industry, but also by tobacco harm reduction experts who have long emphasized that vape flavours play a critical role in helping smokers switch to the safer alternatives, while naturally it drew criticism from some anti-tobacco groups who accused Trump of succumbing to industry pressure.
The Democratic party’s rigid approach to vaping
On the other hand, the Biden administration had taken a stricter approach and focused on regulating the vaping industry to protect public health and prevent youth vaping. Under Biden, the FDA had enforced stricter regulations, including the rigorous premarket tobacco product application
(PMTA) process. While during the ongoing campaign, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also allocated millions to prevent vaping among LGBTQ youth, with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funding a $2.2 million project at the University of Pennsylvania to develop social media strategies targeting vaping disparities in sexual and gender minority youth.
Earlier this year, a group of left-wing U.S. senators pushed convenience store chains to remove unauthorized vaping products, in the name of combatting youth vaping. Sadly, their efforts overlooked data showing declining youth vaping rates and increasing adult use of vapes for smoking cessation. In states represented by these same senators, teen vaping has dropped while adult usage has grown, indicating a need to focus on reducing smoking-related harm among adults. On the otherhand, nearly 70 House Republicans had urged President Biden to expedite FDA approvals for smoke-free nicotine products to offer more alternatives to smokers seeking to quit.
The VTA is optimistic about Trump’s support
Meanwhile, the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) has
applauded Trump’s recent stance. VTA Executive Director Tony Abboud highlighted their recent meeting with Trump, commending his 2019 actions to safeguard flavoured vaping for adults and raising the purchasing age to 21. Abboud noted that youth vaping has since dropped to an all-time low, while many adults have used flavoured vapes to quit smoking. Abboud stressed the importance of Trump’s continued support against the Biden-Harris administration’s perceived efforts to restrict flavoured vape sales.
Harris and her campaign haven’t specifically addressed vape regulations recently, focusing instead on broader public health measures and regulation enforcement. However, it is believed that her stance aligns with the one generally endorsed by her party, in favour of stricter controls on flavoured vapes due to concerns of youth access.
US Smoking Rates Are The Lowest They Have Ever Been- All Thanks to Vapes
