There is no limit to his cowardice, lack of awareness, concern or resonable judgement. DISGUSTING!...and so very SAD....for us...but not for long.
7
Is anyone surprised that our trans-actional president would be anything but disgusting again.
If he truly cared about this country, he would resign.
My amazement is for those who still support him (like my Mom!!!). He is not the greatest thing to hit America since sliced bread. History will view him as a stain on the soul of the USA. etc.
1
It could just happen that all his "voters" who both vape and vote for him will be too busy trying to survive their pulmonary damage that they may never make it to the polls or even absentee voting out of their respective ICU beds.
Too much needed to transport oxygen for so many...unless they have their own oxygen generators which they will need for the rest of their lives.
1
Trump's decision is purely political. That being said - vaping saves lives. The evidence is in. Vaping nicotine is much safer than combustible smoking - which is legal.
Furthermore, flavored alcohol can be had at virtually every outlet that sells alcohol - yet no outrage or threats of banning that.
The ignorance and misinformation that surrounds vaping in the United States is staggering. Sadly though, not surprising. Again, nicotine vaping saves lives.
2
I still do not understand how Trump goes through a long and rigorous process to ban all flavor cigarettes but suddenly wants to stop the ban at its final process. Trump needs to see the bigger picture of how Vaping is affecting our future generations and how it can lead to major health issues.
It is extremely disturbing that our president would even consider postponing taking action to combat the vaping crisis. Our government exists to protect our rights, and health should be one of those rights. Banning flavors of e-cigarettes would save lives and improve the health of countless Americans, so banning these flavors is crucial. Our president should not be putting his reputation and political following first in this circumstance or any circumstance. Additionally, it is even more disturbing that towards the beginning of the article, he appeared extremely passionate about combating the vaping crisis, as he himself has a teenage son. However, as soon as he discovered that taking action to benefit the well-being of many Americans would hurt him, he decided not to go forward. I believe that it is the first goal of the president to ensure the well-being of Americans and America as a whole, and unfortunately, it is clear that our president has other priorities right now.
2
Aside from voters, Trump realized the truth that all illnesses and deaths that our government and health agencies have been stating is due to e-liquid/nicotine vaping, was confirmed to be caused by Black Market THC cartridges containing Vitamin E-acetate. Vitamin E-acetate is a totally different substance, and has NEVER been in e-liquid. Also, there is NO PROOF or evidence that shows e-liquid flavors cause kids to vape. This is total opinion and speculation, with no facts, and this is not what laws, bans and prohibition should be based on. We all know the dangers of prohibition. It would send both "kids" and adults to the illegal and dangerous black market and actually cause deaths. He also doesn't want to send 100,000 small e-liquid business owners and their employees into bankruptcy. I promise you, E-liquid vape stores are NOT connected with Big Tobacco, and will not be contributing big to the Republican National Committee. However, every government official and organization that has been pivotal in attempting to destroy the vaping industry is funded by Big Tobacco MSA money in one way or another, and have been losing Big money due to declining cigarette sales. 480,000 confirmed cigarette smoking deaths per year (CDC); Zero confirmed deaths or illnesses from e-liquid vaping, which has been proven scientifically to be 95% safer than combustible cigarettes.
4
Trump's decision to allow this to continue is frightening. Once the vape pens are sold, there are hundreds of companies who are ready to sell untested, unregulated refill oils that can be put into there vape device. These compounds are cheap and, again, untested so no one knows what compounds are being sold to our children. It's like Russian Roulette when kids buy replacement oils over the internet from companies whose only concern is profit, not safety. If a company can use a binder that has potential harmful side affects, do you think they will discontinue sales for the good of the public?
Trump could have eliminated this danger to our children but chose instead to put their lives at risk in exchange for support from the tobacco industry.
1
A perfect example of what Leading from the back means.
Also, how clear about what is more important for Trump: Public Health or votes.
What a pathetic excuse for a human being, let alone POTUS.
4
@Daniel Messing. But there are no confirmed deaths or illnesses from e-liquid vaping. It has been confirmed by the CDC that ALL cases were from Vitamin E-acetate used in Black Market THC cartridges for JUUL type devices. There has never been Vitamin E-acetate in e-liquid. E-liquid has also been scientifically proven to be 95% safer than combustible cigarettes, which the CDC reports cause 480,000 confirmed deaths per year.
3
I know as a United states citizen that living a healthy lifestyle is very important,It's the key to staying balanced. A healthy body should be the best choice and one of the main topics to help keep America Great again,again!
Vape as you will, die as you might. I wonder if anyone has done a survey on the percentage of people who vape are uninsured. The FDA hardly exists while Trump reigns.
1
@Wanda All "vaping" deaths have been confirmed to be due to Vitamin E-acetate in Black Market THC cartridges, which is completely unrelated to e-liquid vaping. It would be like someone dying from smoking meth out of a glass pipe, and the government saying "it's a smoking related illness" and banning cigarettes. Prohibition is very dangerous water, and will send both kids and adults to the deadly black market.
1
If someone (Fox News perhaps) could mention that the legalization of marijuana could garner quite a few votes.
National policy should not be based on the First Lady’s concern for her own child. I suspect the whole fuss is because Melania saw some of Barron’s schoolmates vaping. Barron attends a special school for kids on the spectrum, and Melania is extremely protective of him. Razor’s Occam.
11
It’s sad that the one good thing he was going to do was ruined by flawed politics. He could have saved children’s lives but instead he backed out so he wouldn’t lose votes.
1
Finally the CDC came with the truth and Trump was there first thing ready to make ammense on all of this nonsense flavor ban.
I really hope we will see a healthy discussion on the topic and that more and more will see that vaping is not bad for you. (Atleast 95% less than cigarettes. There are many studies afaik that supports this)
Any vape shop owner will tell you that their products does not have Vitamine E Acetate in their products. In all the tests made by the CDC there was found Vitamine E Acetate in the lung tissue. (in 29/29 tests randomly picked between the EVALI patients all over the country)
All the ingredients are VG + PG + Nicotine + Aroma in normal e-liquid , that's it. Theres no hanky panky theres no secret ingredients and no harmful checmicals, its as clean as it gets.
Theres been numerous studies thats showed that second hand vapor is as close to breathing pure air as possible, it is not dangerous in any way.
I hope some of this makes sense, this is just the knowledge ive taken in from numerous articles I've read. If anyone needs any sources lmk, I just want this cleared up so we can all vape again.
3
What a political coward this president is. He is a child of Reality TV and TV Ratings, only he has substituted voter polls as his behavior and performance guide.
Shallow, incurious, ignorant, obsessive, unethical, immoral.
And now we can add coward to his list of negative attributes.
3
Since it does not affect him personally, he doesn't care. The lives of our kids mean nothing to him. The Vaping/ Tobacco industry will be making BIG, YUUGE, contributions to the Republican National Committee, not as a Quid Pro Quo of course, no, no, never that, just supporting the political process. None of that money will be used for the benefit of Trump, I'm shocked that you would even think such a thing!! Shocked I tell you!
33
@Bruce1253 what about the roughly 30 million children, toddlers and babies of vapers. Don’t they deserve non-smoking parents? What about the 13M vapers, themselves or their 70-80-90 year old parents? To impinge on any person’s rights is not the American Way. To ask government in any form, especially our President, to be responsible for raising the kids who are BREAKING THE LAW or any others is ludicrous.
1
Once again, President Trump - with no core beliefs and principles - changes his mind solely for political reasons.
Trump then: “We can’t have our kids be so affected.” Melania's "got a son. She feels very strongly about it.”
Of course, that son is also President Trump's son Barron. but I guess that President Trump cares more about his base then he does about Melania's son (er, I mean his son).
Trump now: Let our kids be so affected. I don't feel very strongly about it.
23
No way you can win without the Vape industry vote!
20
Ah, The Art of A Back Down, Again.
He retreated on: trade war with Canada and Mexico, trade war with EU, trade war with China, Background check on guns, etc., etc., .... and now Vaping.
Yell with a loud void and carry a toothpick.
21
Now we have "Make America Vape again!" a new Trump supporter slogan to go along with "Build the wall!"; "Lock her up"; "Send them back!"; and "Jews will not replace us".
Such horrible messages befitting of a disgusting human being.
2
Absent from this article is the fact that the legislation for the Vaping Ban on Flavors was used to attach a ban on Menthol Cigarettes. Yes, the traditinal menthol cigarettes. That is what would cause the political fallout more so than the e-cigarette flavor ban.
Flip-flop Donnie.
3
The documented coward again proves it by his inaction. Money and politics are always first in his world.
8
It's a strange calculus to shape policy around killing your supporters so that you won't lose their votes. "Stable genius," indeed.
3
No surprise, Trump doesn’t believe in science.
2
The photo of the protesters shows mainly people above the age of consent. They are free to make decisions that do not directly impact me. Including a slow suicide. Just not on my dime. If you require hospitalization and your funds run out, that is entirely your choice. You are totally compostable.
No surprise from someone who is devoid of any humanitarian principle, of even the the weakest moral compass. “Let them eat cake,”—-“Let them vape.” The more things change....
2
"The future of our Republic is at stake. Especially if they don't lemme vape my Melon!"
From the guy who opposes regulating vaping: “Bans don’t work,” he said. “They never have.”
This administration selectively applies that idea in order to satisfy its constituency. Does this ring of hypocrisy? I assume now that these dedicated vapors want to pick up the extra costs of health care that their addictive behavior will create.
For the Trump administration, this qualifies as a “win-win”.
Yes folks, it’s all about the jobs.
Not only do we save all those “mom and pop” vape shops and their employees, but do you have any idea how many doctors, nurses, administrators and staff it requires to do a full lung transplant ? So much winning !
2
The effected lobbyists know exactly where & how to massage Trump's decision-making ability.
1
Sounds like he got a call from Big Tobacco, backed up by a big donation to his re-election.
2
First good thing he's done. Bans don't work. I am 47 and use Fruit and Mint flavors because the tobacco tastes awful, nothing like cigs BTW.
Nothing good comes from legislating by hysteria.
3
And bye, bye goes his decision on behalf of the common good. Another example of Trump hypocrisy and a self-serving act.
2
So Trump's reelection is more important than the lives of teenagers? What a surprise. Shame on Trump. He never shows leadership and this is no exception.
1
A flavor ban will not minimize youth use. 59.1% of youth reported using Juul exclusively. Juul is a super concentrated nicotine ecigarette that they are using to get a "high." Flavors don't matter when you're trying to get high. Juul stopped selling flavors in stores (except tobacco, menthol, and mint) a year ago. Want to know the most popular flavor according to NYTS data? Its Mint!
Im a vaper an adult vaper Vapeing has helped me more then anything. I agree with rasing the age limit and holding stores accountable for selling . Same as alcohol but no matter what we implement kids will still get ahold of these things look at the number of teenage drinking accidents and such also the current health issues are not from reputable or even diy vape juice mixes . It is black market thc cartridges and people trying to cut coners to make a buck .. as a test i sent my 18 yr old into a local tobacco store to buy a juul .. mind you she doesnt look 18 much younger they sold it to her with no id required.. hold stores accountable let us have our flavors and wean our selfs off how we need to almost all vape juice comes in 0 nicotine which is my goal but till then dont dictate how and what i do im am an adult i vape i also vote. 8 years vaping no health issues and my dr tells me she cant even tell i vape my lungs and heart are healthy:)
3
@Lisa you're a genius.
1
As a general rule, isn't vaping addictive? Why won't the FDA go after the product in general for false advertising and enforce very large warning labels like cig companies? These products can't possibly help an addict stop smoking, unless they count switching from one addictive product to another. Plus, vaping products come with a fire hazard. I know someone whose bag caught fire from a vape, which fire & smoke damage at her place of employment.
I'm convinced that the breast milk flavored vaping products were designed to appeal to young users.
1
Money is first, apparently, according to Trump. If people are hired in the vaping field, it would definitely be stressful to lose a job. On the other hand, what redeeming value does the tobacco industry have?
Tobacco in its many forms, cigarettes, vaping and chewing tobacco, causes early preventable death. On the other hand, alcohol with moderation is actually beneficial.
Making tobacco legal because so many people use it would be like making meth or cocaine legal: they all end in early death.
1
'Retreats,' Trump retreats. 'Flip flops,' John Kerry flip flopped. The press published lots to about John Kerry and flip flopping. Mostly it implied he was a weak willed nervous sort.
Evidently Trump has no such traits because the press never reports a Trump flip flop. Readers recall Trump flip flops? The press detects none or the supply of the word 'flip flop' was consumed during Kerry's run against Bush II.
What we really have is another case of the less-talked-about conservative media bias. Trump's flip flopping dwarfs Kerry's.
2
We have a government not for the people by the people but a government for the corporation controlled by the corporation
2
@Dan thank you Supreme Court.
1
Yes this is really a hugely sensitive and highly explosive political issue for Trump. He needs to be on this 24/7 or his base will just take him down.
The vapor industry is very happy that the president is taking into consideration the jobs and views of his constituents. You want to "Sin tax" us.... That is fine. But please don't take away our freedom of choice. Caffeine is also a drug. Alcohol is a drug. THC is a drug. But all of these are readily available.
We need a clearer PMTA pathway.
2
So Trump's followers will support him, despite his history of sexual harassment/predation; and his corruption with Trump University, Trump Foundation and Trump casinos.
They will support him despite the constant chaotic circus in his administration surrounding Russia, the Ukraine, tariffs, Syria, the Kurds, immigrant treatment, and just about everything he touches.
They support him when he--and his lawyer--say he would be exempt from prosecution if he killed someone on 5th Avenue.
But they draw the line at his banning e-cigs for teenagers?
Granted that banning a device or drug isn't going to stop teens (and younger kids from doing it; neither will parental talks about the dangers), backing down from this ban because it might hurt his election results is just about the most cowardice thing I've heard from this excuse for a man, and I've heard a lot of cowardly things he's done.
If he had said it won't work or that he doesn't want more "regulations" (he IS the anti-regulatotory president now, isn't he?) I might have gotten angry over our difference in opinion on this, but to back off over hard to election chances, is just another example of his inability to lead and his unfitness for this office. On more Shame on him.
No real surprise here. We all have our priorities and clearly in Trump world the health of our citizens and especially of our young people have to take a back seat to votes and financial interests. Trump may just find someday that his son Baron has become hooked on dangerous e-cigarettes and has developed serious lung issues. Milania likely won't be as forgiving of Trump's political decision but then she's not the 'stable genius' in the family.
1
Thank you President Trump for listening to the people and being able to change your mind when it makes sense. We vape and we vote and I'll be voting for you next election!
Oh, come off it. The vast majority of kids are NOT using them solely because they taste good. If that were the case they'd use ones without nicotine. Instead they are using them to get a nicotine buzz from the super high concentrations found in Juuls. All a flavor ban does it make it less attractive for people like me - a 32 year smoker - who use them as a cigarette replacement harm reduction device. Ban high nicotine concentrations if you wanna do something. Trump (and I'm NOT a fan) just listened to individuals in my situation who banded together to have the voices heard.
2
The whole idea of this is ridiculous! The illness's which have been "linked" and i use this term loosely is nothing to do with actual vaping but using THC in vape devices which is NOT the purpose of vaporisers. And the teen "epidemic" which again i use loosely if you compare it against teen smoking rates from pre 2000's before the big tobacco bonds were introduced. This issue arises from Juul, who use of excessive nicotine level's creates a high for people. If you look across the pond to the UK and to the EU as a whole non of us have had these mysterious illness's which the US have decided to associate with vaping and also we do not have any teen epidemic of vaping. we have long term studies by independent bodies not funded by any groups with interest stating their safety including cancer research groups. we have doctors and healthcare professionals telling people to use vaping to quit smoking. The US need's to look at the EU tobacco product directive and take note. Restrict nicotine level's, create a level of quality control for e liquids and regulate the industry fairly. There is too many interest groups pushing their agenda's with e cigarettes and unnecessary scare mongering created by media outlet's for most people in the US to find accurate information, this issue need's to discussing but with clarity and not ill conceived idea's from people who haven't really looked at the information out there.
3
Money always wins over health, especially children's health. Remember Flint, MI? The children poisoned by lead have suffered irreversible damage, and will live with the consequences of adult action for the rest of their lives.
4
This takes me back to the days when there were arguments about putting Waring label on Cigarette packages. Millions of dollars and years went into stopping that. In the end they lost as to this will. The shame is how many will wind up with medical problems until that happens?
2
I can see that some things never change, that as with smoking back in the day, there are a lot of people who are so hooked on doing what they do, they don't care about the consequences. Smokers claimed it was their right to smoke as an adult, and they, too, fought bitterly when cigarettes were banned from tv, where ads targeting kids were banned (Joe Camel), when they got rid of candy cigarettes, when they banned flavored tobacco, they howled. When smoking was banned from the workplace and public places, they whined and howled it wasn't fair and was going to cause restaurants and bars to close (hint, it didn't, increased business at most).
And that regulation worked, smoking went from 50% of adults when i was a kid to under 20%, and the rate of kids smoking plummeted.
Now we have vapes, that like cigarettes once were, were allowed to be the wild west, and the first sales of vape products were still ringing when the industry started going after kids and also as with cigarettes, figured out how ot make them more addictive. Because of no regulation, they were allowed to have flavors, they were allowed to put any amount of nicotine they wanted (a Juul pod is like the nicotine of two packs of cigarettes), they were allowed to make them look 'cool'......
So basically the government after working to get cigarette usage down, allowed the same addictive drug to be promoted in a new form, especially to kids.
4
Corporations put profits before the health of humans, this is why our government is supposed to work for us and protect from such immoral greed. The Pretend King Trump comes from this corporate mindset that profits or political status is more important than human life. States will have to intervene again to save our children. There is no one in the WH or Congress on our side. We will remember.
7
Typical "let the masses (mob) rule" when it comes to products clearly having a SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE effect on those using the products - mislead by manufacturers/marketers who, without any reputable scientific safety DATA - tell users of these products that provide nicotine WITHOUT ANY of the negative effects of the inhaled "tar" components of traditional cigarettes. What a GREAT product - maintain (or develop) your NICOTINE addiction without the negative health effects of cigarette smoking - however, the negative health effects of the vaping products themselves have not been demonstrated to NOT have negative Health/product safety effects. I'm sure Trump took a BRIBE - dollars directly into his pocket, dollars directly into his campaign's pockets (or the pockets of some Trump-friendly SuperPac), or a promise NOT to fund a NEGATIVE-TRUMP media campaign - nonetheless a BRIBE.
2
@grbobf - Actually there is an abundance of scientific data that supports that vaping is 95% Safer than smoking combustible cigarettes. This is the link to the study from the Royal Collage of Physicians stating the benefits of vaping. They have made statements encouraging the government to not over regulate these products because of the health benefits.
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-without-smoke-tobacco-harm-reduction
3
@Heather Hutton i prefer air.
Just another chicken coward move by a man who has no moral compass or backbone.
11
Always nice to see my fellow Americans voicing their concern about the hurt to the economy and the loss of jobs across the country when an industry's shutdown is on the horizon. And I wonder how it's been going with plans to rebuild the once thriving slave, child pornography, dog fighting, snuff film, drug and gun trades. And all those other economy-boosting commercial activities where so many once toiled.
4
@Rea Tarr Don't forget how strongly the advocate for the gay marriage industry.
Trump easily manipulated? Who knew?
Putin is sniggering like a schoolgirl.
9
Coward.
7
@Julie These products have saved millions of peoples lives, have created jobs, and have become pillars in there communities, serving as support systems for ADULT smokers to quite a very deadly habit.
President Trump stepping back and looking at this issue as a whole instead of just going off of what the headlines want you to believe makes him a coward? lol That does not make much sense no does it?
2
Extorting a foreign power to interfere in us election thus eroding democracy = O.K. as long as we can still be bigots and have a bigot president.
Take away vaping? Uh uh. Votes are now in the line.
Ok, America.
5
In olden times, "cowardice" wasn't a synonym for "leadership."
4
Gun's don't kill people, people kill people. Sounds like a page from the NRA playbook. Trump is a pussilanimous weakling who knows the show is dangerously close to the ending act where he will be unclothed for all to see. He is trying to extend the show to stay out of jail here he knows he belongs. His delusion that he is a modern day Midas is being confronted on a daily basis as the opposite and it is terrifying him. In the next year prepare to see him flop on everything in a desperate ploy to stay in office and out of court.
3
"He only cares about votes". Gee it really bugs me when politicians do what the people tell them to.
1
It bugs me when politicians like Trump lnly listen to a small portion of the people to decide policies that affect the majority.
1
You mean when the people with money tell him what they want.
3
Only goes to show how powerful lobbyist and special interests have penetrated the White House and how we have a self-serving spineless lot of politicians, including the President.
3
Once again, Trump shows he cares nothing for the nation's welfare. He only cares about his own selfish political motives. He panders to his "base" who not only consist of racists and xenophobes, but apparently nicotine addicts and those who would entice teenagers to become nicotine addicts (as the tobacco companies have done for years). So, here we have Trump emerging as a drug enabler, providing yet further evidence that he is a health-destroyer for Americans. How much worse can this corrupt president become.
6
@William O, Beeman I actually think it is the opposite, These products have saved millions of peoples lives and helped them stop a very deadly habit that does put the nations welfare in jeopardy. The only reason for these flavor ban are the Master Settlement Agreement (if you do not know what it is, it is the agreement the tobacco companies made with the government look it up) The states that are pushing these bans are doing so because smoking rates have dropped so low that that the bonds from the MSA are beginning to default, they just want you to think it is about the kids, but that is lies.
The numbers they are giving you about kids vaping are very misleading. They give you the number of every kid that has even tried vaping (which means they could have been at a party and they tried their friends vape).
if you look at the numbers you only have .06% of underage high school students who vape frequently.
This attack actually on vaping came from Bloomberg who conveniently have his own vapor product about to be released.
2
@Heather Hutto there is zero (0) evidence that vaping has "saved" lives, less so "millions of lives." There is no long term data as with cigarettes to show the downsides. How do we not know that long term exposure to vaporized vectors and adjuvant oils (forget about the nicotine and other drugs) doesn't cause lung changes similar to the ones we have seen in the several thousand deaths recently? Asbestos was once thought 'safe' too. What is incontrovertible: inhaling nothing other than air (assuming one does not live in high smog urban area) is much better for you.
That's the only kind of advice Mr. Trump listens to.
1
Imagine that, Donald Trump has no concern for anyone's health or well being but his own. Who'd a thunk?
3
Of coarse vaping should be restricted. But to be fair, does anyone remember a guy named jimmy carter? He of the 55 mph speed limit, the solar panels on the WH, the calls for higher gas taxes to fund alternative energy and on and on? Every presidential candidate since the wipeout of 1980 has looked at Carter and seen that doing the right thing can not only not be good for you, but can be a disaster. BHO came in with sky high gas prices. During his admin the US became the largest hydro carbon producer on earth, in spite of the eniviromental damage it causes. No matter what they say the American people want cheap gas and ez access to harmful legal substances (especially tobacco and alcohol and now narcotics) and any candidate who ignores this does so at their peril.
@Al NIxon lowered the speed limit to 55. It was an unpopular move but he did the right thing. We needed to conserve on gasoline usage.
2
@John
Of coarse he did. That's my point. Doing the right thing is not always a good move. Example. Why are we whining about climate change and evil oil companies and you can stil drive 75 mph? Why are democrats not pushing for a lower speed limit? Because it's not popular even with the left. We like the idea of doing the right thing, we don't always like doing the right thing.
“[Melania’s] got a son,” Trump noted, referring to their teenager, Barron. “She feels very strongly about it [the health risk of vaping].”
Maybe so, but Trump himself feels strongly about nothing except his own fortune; political, financial, personal or otherwise.
He has the spine of an earthworm, a reality that he masks with his endlessly loud smokescreen of bluster and bile.
2
@John LeBaron And I love that Trump didn't say, "We have sons" or even, "We have children (remember Tiffany? Neither does The Donald)" But his acknowledgement of his (latest) family is heart warming
This man is controlled by the NRA and big tobacco (among others). He’s their puppet and a slave to their dollars.
As for any comments regarding having Parents control things around vaping. That’s fine. But does anyone with a hair of common sense think that after all we’ve seen in the last few months of teens dying as a result, why, as a society, would we continue to let this industry run around in-regulated?? Why throw gas on a fire and think it’s a good idea (the continuation of selling flavored pods?).
Under Trump, sadly, America is dumber.
1
Ha, well I reckon The Base must love them some vape, man. First things first, eh.
Who cares about your health or the health of your kids when profits are involved? Certainly not Trump or the Republican Party. Disgusting.
2
Does President Trump support vaping by and for his son and grandkids?
2
The entire Trump crime family should start vaping to send a clear message to all Americans just how safe and delicious vaping truly is!
3
Young people don't support this man so their votes are not in jeopardy.....he says whatever is convenient for him at the time..in doing this he also undermines his #3 wife's rare effort to actually do something....one of the worst FLOTUS ever, she does nothing to earn her taxpayer funded keep.....look at her expression in the photo, Wow...no fake stiff forced smile here.
Just when you think Trump might actually do something good for a change, Big Corporate Money comes around and wags its finger at him, and flop! he turns it into another case study in cowardice.
Every day it's something incredibly spineless like this with Trump. And people still follow him? Amazing.
1
Trump doesn't care about doing what's right, and prudent, only what seems convenient to his ego. He is an opportunist, and a coward (~bully), let's never forget it.
1
These people are such cowards. God forbid they should take a stance on anything. Personally, I don't care if people vape or not, but this administration (and the GOP in general) is utterly devoid of even a concept of leadership. Seriously, I can't think of one issue where this party has staked out a position and offered up a policy to deal with it. Ham-fisted attempts to terrify immigrants notwithstanding... Pathetic. If the Dems run an english muffin, I'm voting for it.
1
So I take it that cigarette smoking is better for you now even though you have 11,000 deaths that contribute to this activity. The vaping deaths are from black market liquids and the bathroom chemists. Vaping liquids are made in a sterile environment who sell to the convenience, tobacco and vaping stores but I'm sure that our powers to be knew that.
1
Forget the son, it's the voters that matter most and Barron can't vote yet anyway. Who is donald trump, anyway? Does he really have ANY policies of his own?
Surprise! Donald Trump is a politician after all.
Despite all the huffing and puffing against politicians, they actually have difficult decisions to make that both please and upset various constituents and successful politicians have to delicately manage that balance.
Looks like the lobbyists have managed to subvert the welfare of the people once again. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to follow the special interests here. Once again, as with the gun lobby, the safety and health of the American people have been sold down the river for a few pieces of silver.
1
Well no surprise there. He doesn’t care about the victims of gun violence so why should he care about casualties of vaping?
1
In other words, the tobacco industry, who manufacturers these products, threatened to remove their support of Trump if he bans the toxic products.
So...he caved in.
If Trump doesn't care that children are being slaughtered in mass shootings, then why would he care about children dying and getting sick from toxic vaping products.
Of course, inhaling toxic chemicals is a bad idea. Why did the FDA legalize the sale of these products to begin with?
Here comes another class action lawsuit against the tobacco industry because they knew these products were addictive and highly toxic, but marketed them to kids anyway.
Trump the stable genius, who points out that his wife has a child, cares not at all about the safety and health of our children and grandchildren. His current focus is about being re-elected and at least temporarily avoiding indictment. If he thought that he would lose even one vote because of imposing some sensible restrictions on vaping he would scuttle the idea just as he did with his short-lived gun control ideas. The only hope we have for any help on the vaping crisis is that Vladimir Putin gets on board and pulls his puppet’s strings in the right direction. Maybe he cares about his grandchildren.
Alright! So glad to hear this. 1) This is a win for the vape industry (which employs 150k people, and contrary to what a lot of people seem to think, is dominated by small businesses and entrepreneurs). 2) This is a victory for personal liberty. Vaping is a silly habit. But so is riding a motorcycle and so is eating potato chips. We are adults and any restrictions on our personal behavior should be viewed as EXTREMELY suspect.
1
That Trump has zero courage shouldn't surprise anyone, and clearly the "First Lady" doesn't feel that strongly either.
Can't help compare this to Bloomberg's public health actions in office--indoor/public place smoking bans, bans on transfats, display of restaurant health inspections, etc. The mayor got significant industry pushback--"you'll kill the restaurant business!"--but persevered. Now many of his proposals have become the norm in the US.
Let's be clear: smoking and obesity are the two leading preventable causes of American deaths, with vaping adding a unique twist to the story. Health care will be a leading issue in 2020, but we seem to be unable or unwilling to confront the issues that are driving communal health declines and increasing costs.
Maybe instead of banning vapes, we should be taxing the heck out of them, following the lead of a few courageous state and local leaders. And while we're at it, how about a BIG tax on sugary beverages, with that revenue funding expanded health care coverage?
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/08/19/vaping-craze-prompts-new-state-taxes
1
The Trump scorecard is:
Opioid crisis - zero effective action.
Veterans affairs - zero effective action.
Gun violence - zero effective action.
Nicotine addiction - zero effective action.
Healthcare - zero effective action.
Only a field of unimpressive democrat candidates could even make this election close.
1
If the Sec. of HHR had a spine, he'd resign.
2
I quit smoking long before vaping was available. I also heard repeatedly that it's very hard to quit smoking, and I suspect Big Tobacco has encouraged that perception. It keeps customers coming back if they believe they need the substance and think it's going to be too hard to stop. Now they're making people believe they probably have to vape in order to quit, and that's just not true. As with alcohol, it helps to understand that you need to manage your thoughts and your response to cravings. You need to be on point for the first week or two, and then it's almost effortless because you feel so much better. The quickest way to detox is to quit using the drug. Breathe air. You'll feel so good, you'll want more - you may find yourself in the mountains or by the sea seeking out the really primo air, and very soon you'll be grossed out by the idea of another lung-full of chemicals. How much longer to you want to be ensnared by an industry that only wants you to buy its poisons and doesn't care if you live or die? Needless to say, don't look to Trump for help. He's an unaware junk food and TV addict.
I used to think that Trump was unconcerned with health issues or at least made them secondary to economics, pandering to big money, or pleasing his base. It is obvious that he actually is at war with any attempts to protect the health of our population, in large part because he is obsessed with obliterating the safeguards that his predecessors, both Republican and Democrat have initiated.
Health and Human services, EPA, DeVoss and schools (cutting school lunch programs), relaxing air and water quality standards, reversing controls on pesticides, asbestos and other toxins, promoting coal burning, heavier and more dangerous cars to obliterate gas mileage improvements, removing health insurance for tens of thousands of citizens, and of course guns which kill exponentially more people and children than vaping. These aren't actions of incompetence and ignorance; they are signs of a malevolent personality.
1
I wish he'd try some of that stuff - who knows, it might be all for the better?
A ban would have been reckless and dangerous, pushing more vapers to bootleg knock offs that have killed so many.
But the fact that Trump pulled back the ban only because it polled poorly in battleground states is just another reason he is spineless.
1
Very simple equation for Trump: Your vote is more important to him than your health.
1
Why bother banning vaping when he won’t lift a finger to restrict firearms in any meaningful way?
Seriously? THIS is the thing that could turn people off Trump?
1
So now he's relying on focus groups for his policy decisions? What a betrayal! Supposedly only slimy politicians do that. What until his base finds out...
It seems like a lot of people still think that vaping is incredibly harmful. It seems like a lot of people are totally ignoring the fact that not a single person has died or fallen ill due to vaping legal nicotine e-liquid purchased from a legal store. Every single one of these deaths and illnesses has been caused by an entirely different product - black market thc carts. It really seems like people are ignorning that vital piece of information.
Vaping is the most successful form of smoking cessation. More people habe quit cigarettes using vapes than any other form of smoking cessation. People are also getting numbers wildly mixed up. 25% of highschoolers have TRIED vaping, but only 1.6% vape on a regular basis, and there is not one bit of evidence pointing to e-cigarettes being harmful beyond that of negligability. It's harm reduction. Vaping has been proven to at least 95% safer than combustable cigarettes. I'd rather have teens pick up vaping than pick up cigarettes.
2
@Jon Delerean I would like to see the long term studies to say that vaping is harmless. Most people don't smoke anything for a just week then quit. The human body has remarkable resilience, but as with other toxins, can't handle a chronic onslaught. Nicotine in these is known to be addictive, and the delivery vector is engineered to maximize delivery. The long term damage
(Direct structural damage from vaporized oils, COPD, coronary damage, pulmonary hypertension, lung, throat, esophageal, stomach, bladder cancer to name a few) are waiting in line to be elucidated.
How many adult voters want to ensure that candy flavored ecigs remain unregulated? ...Are there really masses of Republican voters who strongly support child-focused vaping devices? I would assume more of his base would be in favor of banning the candy flavored products. This doesn’t even make sense... If Trump is trying to please his base, I think he’s actually failing.
Another example of flip-flopper Trump putting himself and re-election above all else. Good sense and safety of our children have no seat at the table in this White House.
What does this say about Donald's base if it's the direction he believes he needs to go in order to win?
3
Only those who know nothing of e-cigarettes would believe banning flavors would do much if anything at all. The base of propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin is not tasteless. It is sweet. A ban on flavored "vjuice" to reduce under-age vaping is like telling your kids they can put sugar in their cereal but not have chocolate and fruit flavored sugary cereals and expecting they will pass on the sugar.
2
Never one to stop efforts that bring death and destruction to voters, for personal gain, Trump does it again with permitting flavored vaping.
Granted, the vaping issue does not rank as high on the danger list as fossil fuel pollution of aquifers, waterways and air, which kills crops, animals and people.
It is not as dangerous as lead and other heavy metals in products, drinking and bathing water, which cause cancer, tumors, developmental delay and death.
It is certainly not as dangerous as Trump's newly created Environmental Decimation Agency, which demands that science be removed as a basis for its actions.
But, there is, nevertheless, a danger.
What ties Trump's pro-destruction (human, animal, plant, water, air), anti-environmental policies together is his wealthy donors who will benefit from his policies:
BigOil, BigPharma-Chemical, Mining, Health Insurers, and now, Vaping companies.
A President should always support the health of the American people. But for the guy who thinks he can kill someone on Park Avenue without punishment, as long as he wins, deaths are just so much collateral damage.
4
And here I thought it was the duty of the Legislature to enact laws. I must have missed the latest change to the U.S. Constitution.
2
Wherever anyone is on the political spectrum, why would they support vaping by children? I doubt that Trump would lose votes because of backing the RIGHT course of action. And if he does, well, providing "leadership" can't always be popular.
9
The question isn’t banning e-cigarettes for underage people that’s already illegal. It was a blanket ban on flavored e cigarettes which isn’t popular for most, because adults actually want the right to choose :/
9
Trump retreated on gun regulation too. This latest move by him is not surprising. All he cares about his himself and what will benefit him.
10
SHE'S got a son? SHE feels very strongly about it?
Isn't he your child, too Mr. President?
Who do you work for?
16
Kids are very important except when you are being impeached and polls are not in your favor. We can always have more kids!
4
Of course he does. Question: does the man have any moral convictions at all?
3
@Rinwood cowards have no convictions.
The photo of protesting “vapers” in front of the White House... ironic. A bunch of people sucking in flavored chemicals that will in all likelihood ultimately kill them, enjoying that right-now lift from the nicotine, protesting for a so-called President who is the ultimate right-now shiny object “decider” to let them continue to have the right to go down tasting strawberries. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
6
The current vaping deaths and injuries are being found to be mainly caused by illicitly made marijuana cartridges with ingredients purchased from China. Investigators are finding fentanyl traces in some.
Nicotine addiction is one of the worst things ever, but vaping nicotine is the sane choice compared to smoking cigarettes.
Teenagers getting their hands on adult stuff has always been a problem through-out history, and that needs to be continually addressed.
4
Could you link the source with claims of fentanyl? I haven’t heard of that as a culprit, only vitamin E acetate.
That's our president, sticking up for what's right (for him).
8
@j s
And his wife, looking interested and engaged as ever.
7
Whether you believe bans on anything work or not, here’s a point to consider.
Donald caused this controversy all by himself. Mr. Bigmouth steps into the spotlight with visions of glory dancing in his head to weigh in on a topic, any topic, you name it, that he knows nothing about. Over three years, we have seen any number of examples of this behavior. Someone, a Fox News talking head, Kanye, Melania, could be anyone, really, has gotten his ear about something and he announces a policy initiative. He has not consulted with any staffers, experts, anyone. Mr. Whimsical.
So, now he’ll be annoyed with the reporting that he doesn’t want to do it because he is afraid of losing votes. Look in the mirror, Donald. Next time, think before you open your mouth to talk about a subject you know absolutely nothing about. America will treasure the silence.
15
Let’s just call him by a title that reflects his core...”The Great Waffle King.” Not a shred of belief, intellectual integrity, or even pragmatic discipline. Whichever way the wind blows, so blows he.
8
30,000 gun deaths a year and we're talking about legislation because of a few deaths from vaping. Crazy, crazy country we live in!
6
Probably a smart move. If you read the comment posts on any NYT article about vaping, vapers would rather give up their left arm than quit vaping.
4
or left lung...
1
And once again the Trumpster caves to lobbyists. Don't take a stand for the public health, Mr. President. It might affect your popularity. If your base was banging heroin (many are) you would support that as well. Pathetic lack of leadership.
5
Before Trump makes any decision, he asks himself a simple question, "What's in it for me?"
9
Meanwhile, absent major litigation, vape related injuries will be paid for by all of us by increased premiums and Medicaid costs. #winning
4
The issue ultimately isn't vaping. Or whether bans work or not. It isn't even whether parents should take responsibility for patrolling their kids.
It's that we have a 'leader' who has no moral center, no ethical responsibility, no genuine concern for kids (or parents or other people in general), and no respect for anything but votes, money, and power -- and of course, no interest in human beings unless it's his own self-interest.
And most absurd of all -- we may put this autocrat back in office in 2020. What's going on with us?!
6
Is the vapor emitted from e-cig considered second-hand smoke? And more importantly, is it harmful?
If not, why should care if a bunch of people want to commit slow suicide? We can't legislate away suicide. If someone wants to kill themselves, they will find a way. As for the kids, where are the parents?
Prohibition doesn't work. Good parenting does.
As for school shootings, where are the parents?
Remember after Parkland how Trump said he was going to get tough on background checks. And then the NRA came to the White House. Same thing here. He is not worried about the jobs. He probably got a call from the big shots in the Vaping industry or their lobbyist and that was that. As for a ban on vaping, in a society that is busy legalizing the sale of marijuana how do you call for a ban?
Here Trump had a chance to do something positive, to be a leader, and he ultimately caved to his fear of angering his base. WEAK!
P.S. I'm not surprised in the least.
4
Only proves he cares about votes, not the health of those who vote.
2
To be fair Trump isn't the first president to sell out the public interest for political expediency. But just as it was wrong for the others, both Democrat and Republican, it's wrong now.
But first we have to ask how could a product designed to deliver harmful cancer causing chemicals into the lungs of young people ever be allowed on the market in the first place?
We know from the cigarette litigation what impact this will have on public health. And we also know who ultimately pays for it, the taxpayer.
So while we properly take Trump to task for his cowardice let's also take congress to task for their greed and corruption.
It's obvious that just as Trump sells out our health for potential votes, congress sells us out for campaign money.
3
@Drspock Trump sells this country out everyday. He's a stable embarrassment. Every day. Day after day.
Putting potential political gains over saving lives is not only disgusting, it is tantamount to murder.
Votes vs. Lives of American Children.
Trump did not have to contemplate that one very long.
5
Trump's retreat on this no-brainer issue really does show that he just can't do ANYTHING right. If indeed his base is upset with fewer of their children falling prey to this insidious and growing problem; that pretty much says it all about his base.
More realistically, he continues to show his obedience to large corporations with evil intentions and eager stockholders whose day begins and ends with the DJ index.
2
Place a sequestered tax on all tobacco and marijuana products. Put that money into a fund which treats the ailments that will result.
That way, they pay for their illnesses and not the rest of us.
2
It is hard to understand how children at age 11, 12 are vaping and it's unknown to their parents or maybe ignored. Maybe their age is even lower. Similarly it's hard to understand how children and teenagers get access to guns and kill people and their parents are unaware that they possess guns or give them easy access to guns. Kids don't exist in a vacuum. When they indulge in behavior dangerous to them or others, parents have in some way enabled what they do.
4
Apparently, it doesn't matter how many young people die, whether by being gunned down in school or by vaping.
It doesn't matter how many parents stand over their children's sill, lifeless bodies, or watch their caskets being lowered into the ground.
If climbing over the dead bodies of the children of America is what it takes winning elections, the children and youth of this country are expendable.
After all, these children are OTHER people's children- until they aren't.
What value does human life have, after all ? All that matters is winning at all costs.
It's a sad day in the United States when the President decides that the lives of the children of American are less important than votes.
Of course, just about every day has been a sad day for this country since Trump was elected.
3
Of course he will do what the polls tell him to do, rather than consider the right thing to do and lead. He's like the host of Running Man, always looking at ratings.
3
The leading causes of death among adolescents ages 15 to 19 in the United States are unintentional injuries such as car crash-related injuries, followed by suicide and homicide, according to the CDC Please note that guns are involved in the latter two, and yet we still refuse to move on this issue which is clearly greater than flavored vaping products?
1
For true leaders, people with ethics and a real care for the people of this nation, voter reaction does not trump doing what is right.
What would it take for Trump to be a real leader in this issue? Perhaps if Barron started vaping and ruined his lungs? Is there any good in the world that Trump can bring himself to do where he does not profit from the action?
Prohibition just caused more people to drink. Many died because of unregulated, poisonous alcoholic beverages. Better to legalize, regulate, tax and fund education and rehab. People are always going to do stupid, destructive stuff unless they know better. This goes for all drugs. Tobacco and nicotine is very dangerous. More education needed desperately.
1
Politics and election first, people last (after they vote).
But, when those who vape the flavored e-cigarettes are bed-ridden, or dead, who would be left to vote?
Reporter should have mentioned most teenagers don’t vote, whether they vape or not.
These are drugs and drug delivery systems and out to be regulated as such by the FDA or at least taxed like cigarettes and alcohol. Typical of Trump to bend to industry and political considerations rather than look for solutions to a public health problem.
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@Docoff03
I agree wholeheartedly. However, the nicotine free vapes don't fall under drug containing blanket. They should be regulated similarly to the "alcohol free" beers.
1
@Kraktos
You are correct, but they should be regulated under safety. The big problem was the FDA allowed Juul and such on the market with no safety testing under the rubric that these were going to be used to get people off smoking, and therefore had to be less dangerous. The problem is these things have had no safety testing, arguing that vaping is safe has no basis in reality, we don't know what taking that vapor into the lungs does. Vaping is not pure steam, vaping fluids aren't just pure water, they have chemicals in there, and no one knows the effects of them because no testing has been done. Any time you bring foreign substances into the body directly like that, you run risks, pure and simple.
4
@Docoff03 you mean the same FDA that thinks Chantix is a better choice when people are committing suicide while taking it? I think the tobacco industry has killed enough people and I hate that vaping is mixed in with it because it's an ANTI-Tobacco product!
2
Well, of course! Our Philanthropist-in-Chief would rather lose lives than votes. Why would we assume otherwise when all the planets and the sun itself revolve around Donald Trump? It's not fair to impugn the integrity of Mr. Trump's Trumpublicans, when the U.S. president can't muster the courage to make a tough decision about fellow-Americans like, "vaping or voting-for-me." It's beyond my mortal comprehension!
3
From the CDC - 1300 people die EVERY DAY in this country from cigarette smoking. 480,000 every year.
Vaping? Deaths due to vaping is 42 with the current crisis along with thousands injured, and I’m sure more than a handful have vaped themselves to death before this crisis, but there is no comparison.
If 50 people get sick eating cookies across the country, should we just ban cookies? No! We should find out what is really happening first before passing knee-jerk reaction laws that are uninformed and emotionally driven.
3
@Beefcloud People who are dying right now from cigarette smoking may have started smoking decades ago. Vaping hasn't been around long enough to make this comparison.
3
I am not suggesting that vaping nicotine is innocent and completely safe, and I’m sure problems will arise in the future with inhaling that stuff. But compared to the burning combustion smoke of tobacco leaf, that also kills many non-smokers, vaping nicotine is a step in the right direction away from smoking.
1
I guess 40 deaths isn’t enough to move the needle for Trump. Need more deaths.
7
Since 95% of vaping products are made in China, does this mean that Trump has admitted defeat and is throwing in the towel in his trade war with China?
Deplorables take note: Trump is now soft on China.
6
Ah, yes, it take so much less thought to stop the delivery of an aid/arms package for Ukraine, or open Federal lands for drilling, or lift EPA protections for air and water than to ban bubble gum flavored e-cigs. Trump will have to study. Hah.
3
I wonder what Trump would do if Barron was vaping -it’s his age group that the likes of Juul are targeting. Would his political interests still supersede responsible public policy?
1
Trump will accuse the other side and then call himself the most criticized and most hated president ever. What I'd love to hear sometime, as much as I disagree with Trump about this topic, is a calm, warm statement from the president in which he says he believes he's doing the right thing.
1
-Once again the Transactional Trump takes a new position.
-He has no idea what the phrase " Do the right thing means " .
7
Do you remember prohibition? Did it worked? Drugs like opium and heroin are banned. Does it worked?
Let the people do their own choice. And what the government should do, is to educate people about the consequence of vaping. After all alcool and tobacco are legal and the government is educating the people about the danger of those two drugs.
it's pretty much impossible to keep people from doing things, even if they are potentially dangerous to their health.
just the same, the president continues to lie and will do anything to get a vote. and those votes may be eclipsed by the money donated by corporate supporters in the never changing pursuit of profit.
he may have kept promises about tax cuts, but they didn't help the majority of the population. he may have kept some others, too, but the important things have fallen to the side as he continues his corrupt rule. his comments about his wife and "her son" are among those that have been forgotten.
vote him out. vape if you like, but vote him out.
So this is our president...when faced with losing votes or saving teen lives Donald Trump chooses the votes. His insensitivity and "all about me" approach to his job is truly appalling, but hardly surprising. Anyone Republican or Democrat who is a parent of a teenager should immediately cast their vote for whomever is running against Trump on this principle alone. Maybe we'll all get lucky and Trump will be run out of office and the next president will realize that the health of our youth is far more important than votes.
13
He's not wrong. Banning flavors will hurt the youth vote, that's more of a concern for the older generations who might be parents, and who understand why they banned flavors in tobacco.
Hmm... the lives of thousands of young people,
Or my re-election?
11
Banning flavors is a ridiculous thing to do. JUUL has already initiated it's own flavor ban and black market companies that arent regulated have just filled this void, creating flavored pods that fit into a JUUL. They are sold at every bodega in Queens. I'd rather see flavors sold but highly regulate their production. Otherwise we will have this same disaster on our hands with more vitamin E acetate killing people.
3
I’m not a big supporter of Trump nor the whole vaping industry, but it’s really annoying to see how we always play the “blame it on others” game. What about the parents here? Ok, they ban something, but they are going to get their hands in something else, probably worse. But hey, talking to our kids about thing like this and the consequences is never the parents job. Because the whole “education start in the home” is no relevant anymore since they are teenagers they are influence by social media and they do whatever they want. We need to open our eyes and stop this nonsense and the continuous “it’s not our problem (parents), you (everyone else) go and fix it”
26
@Lia Rivera Parents can talk until they are blue in the face but kids will still do what their peers are doing. If it all it took was for parents to talk about the dangers of smoking, drinking, drugs we wouldn't be having these conversations.
29
@Lia Rivera — Kids think they are invincible, and that they know better than everyone else. Even if parents set an example, that’s no guarantee a kid will follow it.
This has been going on since time immemorial. But that doesn’t mean we don’t take steps to make it harder for kids to pick up the habit.
24
@Lia Rivera - Have you ever been a parent in a 2 earner household where both parents have to go to work just to keep up, or a single parent household where the only parent has to go to work to stay off welfare? Parents normally can't, and shouldn't, attach themselves to their kids' hips 24 hours a day.
Talking is fine but a little help in keeping your kid(s) on the straight and narrow when you're not able to rule their lives every minute of the day, instead of providing them with opportunity to stray for the sake of votes, is certainly a boon. No one i can see here is placing the blame on others but trying to hide at least partial deserved blame doesn't help alleviate the situation.
15
I still dont understand how alcohol companies get away with gazillions of flavors, enticing young drinkers. Alcohol advertising is getting out of hand. Alcohol is 1000x more destructive than nicotine or cigarettes. I would love to see the NY Times do a whole piece on alcohol and advertising. it should be banned.
5
A fallout among voters? Surely this is a joke. Some big corporations such as Juul, Turning Point, Altria, etc. depend more and more each year on flavored e-cigarettes and "pods" being consumed by children. This move by Trump will be a nice boost to their stock prices, so who cares about the increasing number of vaping-related deaths reported this year?
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@Anderson
Please don't conflate the spike in adolescent use of vaping products with the recent spate of vaping related illnesses. Both of them are worrisome, but only teen vaping is linked to widespread availability of flavored e-cig pods, while vaping related illness appears to result from use of black market or poorly made cannabis vaping products.
3
Of the corporate players mentioned, one hidden and overlooked manufacturer of select components for the vaper is Phillips-Medisize, one of the Koch Brothers companies.
7
@Brett
Well, if teens hadn't jumped on the vape bandwagon, they wouldn't be vaping black market THC products. They would be smoking weed old school. So, ya, the spike in teen vaping is related to the vaping sickness and deaths. I know, not all are teens, but most are.
3
Many Trump supporters view the essence of America as pure liberty. No regulations, everyone looking out for themselves, no need to get educated or learn about anything outside of their own experience. They rebel against a nanny government.
The problem is that most people need nannies. Left to their own devices, they will hurt themselves (through obesity like Trump or vaping per this story). The attitude that it’s okay to let people hurt themselves since it’s none of my business is broken in this highly interconnected world. The oil execs making millions are killing my climate. The obese smoker is driving up my health costs as insurance companies scramble to cover everyone.
Regulations is needed at some reasonable leverage. The quest of Republicans to kill all regulation will hurt us all for little benefit.
When Trump got elected I heard it said “It’s bad, but it’s not the end of the world.” I’m not so sure at this point. Trump may, via war, climate change, or economic depression, literally end the world.
6
Anyone expecting anything but cowardice, greed, and self interest from this insult to the land's highest office is either delusional or a current White House staffer.
5
We clearly have the best government money can buy. Public health be damned !
8
"Advisers say the president pulled back from proposed restrictions intended to curb teenage vaping after he was warned of the political fallout among voters."..........
Can't lose those valuable votes and voters now can we?.......
So What,
If we kill a few kids in the process?
A hundred die?
A thousand die?
I'm confused - how many can die before it's not OK?
12
@RB I doubt it's the potential fallout among voters, I think it's really the potential loss of political donations from the companies that manufacture and distribute the vaping products.
11
Of course Trump is reversing his position. It was a lie to begin with. The truth is that Trump would like to see young people addicted or dead because they don't often worship him.
4
The safety information on Juul’s website is quite interesting. I propose that it be available, to adults, by renewable subscription. Make sure they understand the health risks.
https://support.juul.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023481053-Can-you-speak-to-the-health-and-safety-of-this-product-
1
Of course, I meant prescription.
Of course, I meant prescription.
I’d also like to see more coverage of the health effects of second-hand vapor to children’s lungs and brains and to those with respiratory problems. These are easy to find via an online search.
Still, if the alternative is second hand smoke, the former might be marginally less harmful. Unless vaping is allowed in places where conventional cigarettes are not....
1
Banning flavors seems perfectly reasonable to me. Non-flavored cartridges would still be available to those who use vapes as a way to stop smoking and the lack of flavors would cut down on their appeal to teens. Anyone who gets mad about that is just putting their own personal enjoyment above the safety of teens - I couldn't care less about such people.
Of course, if vapes were really only to be used to stop smoking, then they should be a prescription product and not readily available to anyone with a credit card and internet access.
5
I must say that reading the comments on stories like this are extremely informative, with respect to his defenders and supporters. Really alarming to know what we are up against in the fight for what is right, decent, and for the COMMON GOOD.
4
What makes these people think that removing flavors will reduce teenage vaping?
Teens in prior generations took up smoking in large numbers, despite the fact that it doesn't taste good and is literally painful for the beginning smoker.
The reason people smoke and vape is nicotine; if they just want flavor, they'll buy a box of mints.
4
as far as I know people aren't dying or getting seriously ill from unflavored vaping, though this is unclear in terms of THC vaping, and the age ranges up to 80 for cases. Just recently a 16 year old required a double lung transplant to save his life. Flavorings approved to be eaten, but not known to be safe if inhaled are too dangerous to continue until proven safe.
Perhaps, sir, you are unaware of the thousands of pages of discovery in the successful tobacco control lawsuits. Those documents are riveting in terms of deliberate marketing and related efforts to get kids hooked on tobacco, knowing full well that this would kill many more people. My scientific colleagues and I are responsible for saving hundreds of thousands of people from dying—perhaps even children or adults you love. Flavored vaping is just another tool to do the same. Read the “Tobacco Papers.” Just for the record, all of my immediate family died as a result of tobacco addictions. I’m the only one who never smoked. And if readers think it’s not possible to do simple things to reduce sales and consumption of tobacco products, my colleague (Anthony Biglan) and I have a published study showing population-level study across states reducing sales and consumption of tobacco products by youth in Brain and Behavioral Science using a very simple procedure.
1
@Dennis Embry
Of course it's possible to reduce consumption, but banning flavors in an effort to do so is a fool's errand; if teenagers were after flavors, they'd suck on lollipops.
I'd add that you seem to be conflating vaping with smoking; most adults who vape do so because it is a less lethal alternative. In that population, vaping has been a very successful smoking cessation policy.
1
Of course Trump doesn't want to ban vaping for teens. They don't vote yet and when they do they won't vote for him.
1
Trump's who political agenda is based on getting votes so this retreat is hardly surprising.
3
This just goes so show that Trump thinks of nothing but helping his buddies make more money so they can keep him in office. Now, he's throwing our kids under the bus for his own good.
6
May I ask? What happened to Melania's BeBest campaign, would love to hear her reaction, but have a feeling that her son Barron will be banned from using them, everyone else's children? Good luck.
8
I thought Trump campaigned that he was immune from lobbyists. He puts politics ahead of common sense health concerns. He is looking to win at all costs, even at the costs of our teens across america.
10
Trump, the non-smoker and tee-totaler. Was against vaping and all those fancy flavors, until...
Care for a quid pro quo, anyone? Only this time, Trump isn't the one with the upper hand.
How's it feel, Donnie, being blackmailed? For a few lousy votes?
9
Trump voters want more pollution, less education, obesity, weak public health policies, discrimination and racism, guns, dictators, conspiracy theories, a lot less science, plastic straws, men making all the decisions and whatever else FoxNews slips into their scripts.
36
It's all about Trump's 'Me First' theory of government.
10
#GreedOligarchsProfit & death over common sense.
8
The only thing this President cares about is being President & getting elected again. He has done nothing positive for the country from his tax plan that robs all but the wealthy & big business, and in particular our country, to his meetings with Dictators such as Erdogan and Kim Jong un, for one reason only...to score points toward re-election. So where does the "flavor ban" (now not even happening) fit in? This is not happening because the voters, his voters would not like this. Because his voters are probably still in the majority of smokers or users of such (controversial) remedies to stop smoking, such as vaping, and he has now been educated (instead of just shooting off his mouth without researching first), that his support will not like him if he bans flavored products. The most pathetically transparent elected official I have ever witnessed. Truly pathetic man.
10
America must have its stimulants. That's the bottom line.
I despise Trump but I'm not sure a Dem president would have acted any differently.
1
I am just left wondering about the kind of people that vote for this man.
8
“Kids are coming home and saying... Mom, Dad I WANNA VAPE!” Remember that insane display of utter incompetence? It was clear then at that meeting that Trump had only just learned of the existence of vaping five minutes prior to the meeting, despite it being a years long scourge that almost every Citizen is aware of. Trump is a feckless dunce who also happens to be the president.
10
In the UK vaping is viewed as a way to combat smoking. About 20% of vapers quit both. Most of the vaping problems in the US come from counterfeit products and those with CBD. This information comes from Steven Dubner of Freakonomics fame.
I am no fan of e-cigs, they look kind of stupid. This is a situation for journalists to take a 360 degree view of the subject to see if there are any merits to the above claim. We all to often have a knee jerk reaction from the myopic POV we get from the media. If one has all the facts it is easier to make a clear decision .
9
The first thing the media should have pointed out all along is the fact that these cases of lung disease are confined to the United States. There have been none in Europe.
What is the difference between us and Europe in this case? It begins with tighter regulation of products.
The notion that adults don't like fruity flavors and that only kids do is ridiculous. Yet, that is what the media has been selling us in its analyses.
Millions of people have quit smoking because of vaping and while vaping products contain nicotine, most people who've been vaping long term start at a higher nicotine dose and gradually reduce. Is it better than not smoking or vaping? Of course not. But it is still better and healthier than smoking and it does save lives.
From an article that appeared last week in Reuters:
"U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts say their investigations suggest the injuries are linked to vapes containing THC - the component of marijuana that gets people high - and Vitamin E acetate, which is believed to be used as a cutting agent in illicit THC vaping products.
British addiction and toxicology experts said last month that the American vaping illnesses were most likely “a U.S.-specific phenomenon,” and there was no evidence of a similar outbreak in Britain or elsewhere where the suspect products were not widely used."
Legalize weed and inspect THC oil manufacturing plants. That is where the problem is - not e-juice.
5
Let’s begin by acknowledging that people didn’t die from vaping, they died from vaping contaminated e-juice. Europe has as many e-cigarette users but didn’t experience a similar outbreak. There are millions of former tobacco users who were able to quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes. Adult e-cigarette users dealing with their nicotine addiction don’t claim vaping is harmless, but we do believe we are greatly reducing our risk when compared to smoking tobacco. The proven harm reduction in vaping over smoking is supported by several European studies untainted by anti-tobacco dogma. For those of us living with a nicotine addiction, vaping has broken the ageless connection between nicotine and tobacco.
4
Welcome to New America where all that matters is power and money, and everything and everyone is for sale. I'm sure the vaping industry paid him more than the anti-vaping forces.
3
The ban on flavored flavored pods was simply making millions of enraged parents believe something was being done. Any civil society would be JUUL and others who targeted, marketed, and hooked those teens to justice.
2
In September I said in jest, if Trump bans e-cigarettes I'm voting for him! As a suburban voter and mother of a teen and a young twenty-something, I'm very concerned about nicotine addiction. Yet Trump takes the opposite tack.
Trump continues to solidify his already rock solid base, and to increasingly alienate anyone who may possibly cross over to him for any reason. So. Much. Winning.
5
I wonder what that cost Altria? What are the odds they will be spending money at Trump hotels and donating to his campaign?
5
Everything with trump is a cynical political calculation, not what is best or healthiest for the American public. My strong suspicion is that he also got several hundred thousand dollars to change his mind on this.
5
@CP and half his pass will only remember his first “ pledge” and not believe you when you tell them he back pedalled
3
An adviser says "he'll loose voters". He is really is wind-up plaything, isn't he. A dangerous one albeit, but a plaything nonetheless for the last person to talk to him before he "makes a decision".
1
Honestly, the point of this piece could be about ANY of the problems our country faces(guns anyone?!?)and what is so horrifying is that this derelict President could not care less or do anything if it might mean he doesn't get re-elected.I
That is the real takeaway and I guess until it affects any of the Trump voters that is fine with them.
I wasn't aware of how much anger and ignorance existed in our country until the 2016 election.
I am truly afraid.
9
A nicotine addiction delivery system. No more,no less.
Creating more nicotine addicts.
7
Trump’s last minute corrupt moves are staggering. He always comes up on the evil side of any issue.
“She’s got a son,” Mr. Trump noted, referring to their teenager, Barron. “She feels very strongly about it.”
Trump’s mental decline is accelerating. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Trump say that he barely knows his wife’s son, forgetting that Barron is his son too.
10
The e-cig ban is ridiculous. Thousands of people each day die from regular cigarette smoking and a hundred from gunshots and yet we fly into a panic over Juuls. I have nothing to do with any of these things, but banning e-cigs or flavors is short sighted.
3
@M the idea is not to keep making the same mistakes over and over
1
E-liquid is heated and converted to aerosol.
The vapor contains nicotine which is addictive.
So much for helping smokers quit.
What is of concern is not the nicotine but the other chemicals contained in the vapor. Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acrolein,
tin, cadmium, and mercury, all cause blood vessel, lung and eye damage. This is not something you want anyone you care about using.
8
@Fred Tarnowski Thank you for a fine technical summary of E-liquid contents. Sadly these facts will just confuse simple minds.
The logic of vaping escapes me - it is the introduction of pure nicotine to the lungs. Well almost pure - the effect of unknown additives appears lethal. And the nicotine- highly addictive. It appears the cancer stage is bypassed. Death can occur in a very short period - along with opioids and obesity just another way to shorten our lifespan while companies profit.
7
If banning the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes is the "right thing to do", then it's right even if it costs Trump votes but he apparently wants the votes "at any cost" and is willing to disregard to the health problems caused by vaping. So much for Mrs. Trump's concern for Barron. Note Trump says "she's got a son", not "we've got a son". Very telling, don't you think?
42
@Peyton Collier-Kerr Seriously? A man defers to his wife and his wording is your issue? Vaping is not the cause of illnesses or death, illegal THC cartridges are the source. People die in car crashes every day, do Americans still have a right to drive and purchase vehicles? Of course they do! Vaping ADULT nicotine products helps ADULTS quit smoking cigs. Period.
3
@Peyton Collier-Kerr
Votes and campaign donations "trump" the right thing to do each and every time. Nothing new here.
4
Wow, you are not well-versed in the news, are you? And wording does matter when it demonstrates that a person is severely impaired to the point where he seems to have forgotten that child is his son, too.
3
I'm confused. He back tracked because of the political heat associated with protecting teens. I would have thought the opposite.
5
@MB protecting ADULT choice. Teen rebellion needs to be handled by parents, not Presidents or Government.
1
Right. Because that has worked so well in the past. Children with good parents who impose reasonable rules and have excellent relationships are losing their children to the opioid epidemic. So, clearly, that is not working. Why should it work with e-cigarettes?
4
This is a weak response. Do the right thing!
7
@Betty I call it a non-response and most troubling always self-serving. Unbecoming a man with power, worse for a President.
2
Since Trump has no moral center - just a political one - this isn’t at all surprising. It is, however, disgusting; but what else is new? It’s another day in Trumplandia.
44
Why are we not surprised.? No gun control, no vaping ban on flavors, no admittance of climate change and so forth
The mantra seems to be, kill kill kill as long as enough are alive to vote for him.
29
Trunk got smoked by lobbyists. Public health is of no concern compared to profits.
23
@Ed Marth google #msabloodmoney. Public health and even the AHA used to encourage vaping to quit smoking. This issue is about ADULT choices to quit smoking and not rights for children to get illegal drugs, vape them and impinge on adult rights.
1
One of the only decisions I agree with. Sorry but vaping is healthier then smoking. Millions of former smokers are effected by this. Tobacco flavored vapes are hated by consumers for tasting artificial. You cannot force people too smoke a flavor of vape they hate. They will switch back to smoking guaranteed. Trump is a coward but in this situation it worked in the favor of adult consumers.
8
@Merl Sorry why smoke at all? Why not quit?
3
@Merl
How about the remaining 14% of Americans stop being addicts?
1
I am not a smoker or vaper. Just a citizen with friends that are
Teens don't vote. But companies do have cash. Step right up. Anything you want, if you've got the molah, it's yours for the taking. MAGA.
19
A drug delivery system....
When it's all said and done, e-cigs are drug-delivery devices that promise to become a modern-day scourge.
Every device is safest on the day of its invention. Only Time will sort them out, revealing those that wreak great harm. Our healthcare system is already under severe stress, and no one knows how many pulmonary and cardiac conditions will be worsened by e-cigs.
The only rational way to deal with these devices is to offer them by prescription for those seeking to quit smoking. Then we can assess the side-effects without risking widespread harm.
When I witnessed the delight of an eight year-old sharing puffs with his mother, I realized just how much the FDA has let us down.
17
@Dan
The right to addict and profit from shall not be abridged.
And watch the addicts fight tooth and nail for their fix. Ironic no? The very people you are hurting will fight for your right to hurt them since nothing is more powerful than addiction.
2
@Dan
I’m sorry. How does inhaling nicotine from one source help you to quit smoking from another. There already are medications on the market to help people quit. And you don’t inhale.
1
@Dan I pray you reported that mother to your local childrens protection group. Vaping is for ADULTS and only with FDA registered products. And do not forget, FDA has approved countless drugs which have caused grievous harm to America.
His decision probably has little to do with voters, and probably everything to do with political contributions from the vaping product producers, who doubtlessly contribute heavily to his campaigns as well as those of powerful politicians from tobacco producing states. Kind of like the NRA, special interests rule. Follow the money, as always in American politics. The right things don’t happen when the money aligns with the wrong things.
21
I'm a bit conflicted here.
As I understand it, these things have negligible effect on anybody but the user.
In that case, the solution should be to keep them with perhaps some restrictions to the sale of underage to be considered?
more to the point - hey you there, reading this -
have you ever shared your "wisdom" about the prohibition of drugs or alcohol before? you know, that old folk wisdom chestnut about how prohibition increases demand and/or use? wasn't true then, isn't true now. or does anybody in their right mind think that teenage vaping will actually increase if it is made illegal? criminal activity may indeed increase - be that sales to minors or however it is defined - but there's precious little to suggest that prohibition affects demand one way or another. it's other things that do this, including advertising and public perceptions.
1
@Swift
"As I understand it, these things have negligible effect on anybody but the user".
You recall, recently, that sweet innocent vaping boy who almost died and got some new lungs and is now on the long, painful road to rehab?
And you realize you're paying for all that? And Vape Inc. walks Scot-free to spend their money lobbying our toaster-waffle of a President to let them ensnare more young victims and pass along more outrageous costs, because business?
There's no conflict here: these geniuses sell things that have been sickening and killing people for a while now. You geniuses are defending their right to do so. Our bonehead of a government approved a product people suck on and put into their lungs hundreds of times every day without even once thinking they should look into it.
To be generous to your point of view: we should take every one of these things off the market, and all refills, and ban home-made refills. Do proper medical testing, whether you want to call it a drug or not, and then reconsider licensing, with appropriate liability clauses for manufacturers, and for those who still choose to feed their habit.
Yup. And let’s get rid of the requirements to wear seatbelts; let’s use handheld phones while driving; why require car seats for kids; why require insurance to drive a car; why require inspections; why ban unsafe cribs and children’s toys; why ban child pornography; why ban racial discrimination; why require some form of elementary education; why ban fireworks; why ban child labor.
Let the parents decide.
1
So instead of looking out for the health and welfare of the future generations of Americans he shows us the he can be bought, as usual.
28
@BTO not in the least. Parents need to deal with their kids, not Presidents and government. If anything, he is pausing to get constitutional clarity and does not care about money from Big Tobacco. The “vaping” problem is like saying vehicular manslaughter is a VEHICLE problem. Its a driver issue. Teens vaping illegal drugs is an illegal drug and parenting issue. i do not need or desire any Gov official telling me how to raise my kids.
1
@Carol Clements , I am sorry Carol but the government does tell you how to raise your children and when you fail they are placed in protective services and yes Trump can be bought.
The right to profit from killing or allowing others to be killed either directly or indirectly might as well be included in the Bill of Rights as should the right to con and take people's money. Both are ingrained in the American culture. Addiction is a con. People are conned into believing something is good when in fact it isn't and they will be almost powerless to no come back for more.
So-called originalists will fight tooth and nail for the right to kill, addict, and con others for profit. Certainly, you won't see Trump calling for disallowing the con.
There is nothing more power than an addict defending his or her right to addiction and obtaining their fix.
4
His supporters are big consumers of flavored vaping? Seriously? Perhaps Trump is trying to lower U.S. life expectancy - 78.69 years old in 2016 - down to that of the Russian Federation: 71.59. (In 2016, life expectancy in Germany was 80.64 years, in the United Kingdom it was 80.96; in Canada, it was 82.30. Must be all that terrible socialized medicine!)
14
@Ellen Freilich please research the health benefits to former lifetime smokers switching to vapor so you dont appear so incredibly uninformed.
1
@Carol Clements The simplest way is neither. Don't start either habit and you can just cross that off your list of things to worry about.
1
@Ellen Freilich that doesn’t help the millions already addicted.
Once again, Trump in his infinite wisdom made a simple but dastardly calculation: do I save young lives by curbing a flavored poison, or do I lose a few more voters of shrinking base? Easy. Ditto on guns, environment, treaties, race, immigration, ... When your only objective is to get voters, the lines suddenly become clear. (And clear as mud to anyone else.)
10
I'm glad, although his reasons for giving up are pathetic and predictable. I quit smoking 4 years ago by switching to vaping. I used flavors like cotton candy and strawberry milkshake; any adult who vapes will tell you the tobacco flavors are disgusting. I wish we could strengthen the restrictions on sales to minors instead of completely banning flavored juice or e cigarettes in general. It works pretty well with regular cigarettes and alcohol, it's not impossible.
P. S. Please do a little research before making claims about the dangers of vaping.
7
@Elizabeth it doesn’t take research to understand that vaping IS smoking. Inciting is nicotine no matter where it comes from. To say vaping helps you quit smoking is simply absurd.
@Elizabeth
"P. S. Please do a little research before making claims about the dangers of vaping."
You're kidding, right?
And you're implying you have done the research?
Because you have not.
There is no meaningful research.
You government released this scourge on the market with no control, no evaluation, no regard for safety and, until recently, no effort to reign in outlandish claims by manufacturers.
I get that you have a position, and that you're allowed to. But you do not get to imply there has been research to support your purely emotional claim, or that those who are concerned are ignorant of the facts.
At this point vaping is more akin to Russian Roulette than anything else. So, of course, your president wants you to play.
1
I read the story, and while I wasn’t surprised to see Trump putting his self-interest before public health, I found this quote to be both very sad and enlightening:
“We can’t have our kids be so affected,” Mr. Trump said. The first lady, Melania Trump, who rarely involves herself publicly with policy announcements in the White House, was there, too. “She’s got a son,” Mr. Trump noted, referring to their teenager, Barron. “She feels very strongly about it.”
He’s speaking of his own son as if he is someone else’s. Not his. Is that how Trump views all his relationships? As transactional, with no emotional connection? A quid pro quo, as it were? If they have nothing of great material value to contribute — as Barron obviously doesn’t because of his age — they’re afterthoughts?
I wish this kid all the luck as he navigates adolescence and young adulthood, and may he be the one to finally break this seemingly dysfunctional family dynamic.
9
@MDB Is it conceivable (no pun intended) that, indeed. Melania has a son about whom she does appear to care, but that Trump doesn't have a teenage son or, at least, doesn't care one whit about him? Any more than he cares about anybody else except himself?
Health of the nation doesn't seem to be of the president concern, physical or otherwise.
4
Votes vs. the health of the nation's teens: that seems like an easy one.
The one coherent thing about Trump is that in all of his inconsistency, he's consistent: if you expect the most selfish possible response to any situation regardless of the consequences, you'll accurately predict his actions every time.
Sad.
11
Fall out among voters?
Job losses? I think ER physicians will still have jobs if he signs off on the ban.
Dear God. Our children sacrificed because some lobbyist convinced him it will cost the vaping industry jobs and his re-election.
Has he the courage of his convictions? Does he have any convictions? Yes, he has one. What’s best for me is best for America, and if it isn’t, it’s still best for me.
10
As anything is possible with Trump, I expect next that to keep voters, he will make it easier to get opioids.
People are dying from vaping, juts like they are by opioids, and to Trump votes are more important than lives. And, the bottom line of corporations are more important than the lives of people.
With that said, I can't wait for the class action suits that put the tobacco industry *which no market vaping products as safe), and companies like Juul, out of business. They replaced one set of dangerous poisons with another.
But, rest assured Trump will not have to worry about losing voters.
6
Isn’t what he’s doing is along the lines of what all politicians do - caving in to special interests?
And it seems the only difference is that politicians are bribed in our pay for play system.
Trump obviously feels he is just doing what his supporters want whether it’s right or wrong.
4
Yes, many politicians do this but that doesn’t make it right and that doesn’t mean we don’t call it out when it happens. It’s our job — as their bosses— to hold them accountable.
5
If he's going to allow it than he should be required to do it. If he is convinced there is no danger this should not be a problem for him. I've noticed that some of the people sitting behind Trump at recent rallies have been looking bored. If he blew out large white clouds at his rallies it might rally his base even more.
10
@Frank And the ones standing behind him (in front of the TV cameras) can't leave.
1
All vaping devices should be banned, not just the do-called flavored ones.
What good comes of these devices?
You mean to tell me that the flavored ones are more lethal than the non-flavored devices, which in fact are tobacco-flavored.
At best, if deemed necessary by a physician, these devices would be available by prescription only.
3
@MIKEinNYC - These devices would never be recommended by a physician. They serve no legitimate purpose. If someone needs a nicotine delivery system to quit smoking they can slap on a patch.
3
@Jim
Absolute rubbish. I am a physician.
Addiction has two aspects - physiological and behavioral. The reason other nicotine replacements do not work (14% efficacy at 1 year for the best - patches) is they do not address behavior.
Vaping is far safer than smoking and can be done in a step down method to remove ones dependence on nicotine. You are simply misinformed sir.
I recommend vaping to most refractory smokers and have helped dozens quit.
6
@Jim this is wrong. For one: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/28/the-uk-is-embracing-e-cigarettes-as-an-anti-smoking-tool-as-the-us-cracks-down-on-vaping.html
For two, e-cigarettes are proven to have a much better rate at preventing relapses than the patch.
6
Worried about political fallout among voters for not banning this toxic addictive substance? The fallout will be worse if he doesn't ban it, just as it will be for when he flip-flopped about gun control.
8
Votes over health. Why would we expect anything else from this fool of a president?
96
He stands for nothing. Other than himself.
220
@Cliff As many writers have noted, his first instinct is corrupt and to enhance himself. Even when he might do the right thing, he cowardly backs down. Again.
4
Vapers as a political voting bloc. What an absolutely ridiculous country this is.
221
@D. Quixote
You have to remember that most adults who vape do so because it was the only way they could quit cigarettes. For them, it is literally a life-and-death matter.
4
@Josh Hill Please. I hope you are as concerned about Trump’s EPA weakening restrictions on particulate air pollution.
7
@Josh Hill
I guess where this is all heading is that pretty soon there will be opioid vapes.
3
Vaping must have the same gun lobby!
14
rather than look at this latest flip as another in a series of neck-wrenching reversals, consider its aspect of consistency: you can always count on this president to do the wrong thing.
146
You don’t need a weathervane to know which way the vape smoke blows. Just watch Trump flapping in the breeze. His resolve on any issue is all about the base.
12
His concern for public health is surpassed only by his "love" for the Dreamers and his"respect " for women.
65
You said you could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters so why not support vaping regulations and test it? What have you got to lose?
20
All politicians do this. Trump just doesn't have the luxury of timing or a decent poker face
1
And he’s going to give us, “great, the best healthcare,” too!
15
He must have received a large "donation" to his campaign.
24
Because who cares about teenagers getting lung diseases when votes hang in the balance?
81
@Selena Coul people got sick because of illicit THC cartridges -- not bonafide vaping products that adults purchase at vape shops.
9
@Tova the media has done an absolutely AWFUL job of educating people on this issue. Ugh. It’s so sad seeing a viable safer alternative to smoking being demonized whilst combustible tobacco is still legal.
7
@Selena Coul 80 deaths from opiods in my little TN county last month. If we need federal intervention for drugs, alcohol and tobacco, where does that leave states? What responsibility do people have? And I am sorry, but 40 deaths due to any illegal drug is not an epidemic.
1
Typical pol., not just Trump but a majority of them ie don't do something even if they believe it's right because he they view it as. not being politically popular.
Having said however, I agree with Trump, a vice should never be outright banned.
Regulate it, hold people responsible for the downside and don't promote it. If you ban it outright you open up the black market and crime.
The above worked wonders with drunk driving and cig. smoking re a dramatic drop in death and sickness and has been a miserable failure with our gun death epidemic in this county because we have not employed the above cure.
2
The umpteenth proof that Trump has no backbone, and certainly no beliefs. He is a wind vane. His opinion is the opinion of the last person who spoke to him or the person who gave him the most praise.
Flatterers, heel lickers, Yes men and people who benefit from him are his favorite clique.
15
Thank goodness! This flavor vaping ban was going to be a disaster. We are not children. You cannot punish the whole population in an attempt to protect a few. It’s downright un-American. Let parents do their job and educate their children about the dangers of vaping. So tired of parents pushing government to do their job.
56
@Mike L
If chlorine in water tasted good and gave a "high" it would be bottled and sold as the best slider ever. There are good reasons for many ingestible products.
8
@Mike L Millions of teens are not a few. They are the majority of users. Rather, Jim Harrison said it best Mike, why not just quote him: " Americans will spit the face of their grandchildren to make a buck."
32
@Mike L -- Right. Cause everybody knows that kids always listen to what their parents tell them. And, while we're on the subject, what's the deal with government telling my kid when he can drive? If I want my 12-year-old behind the wheel, how is that anyone else's business? Same with drinking--why should the government be telling me that my kid can't drink? Don't I know what's best for him? And, while we're at it, what about the laws that say my kid has to go to school? Talk about government interference! I know best, and if my kid is an illiterate, drunk driver, why should the government get involved? And, if you don't mind your if kid gets serious lung injuries or dies from vaping, what right does the government have to interfere?
45
Yup, sounds about right. Our citizens are dying from e-cigarettes but his re-election takes precedence over pesky deaths. Nothing stands in the way of HIM and his profiteering, no matter how detrimental to the lives of his fellow Americans!
9
@Sara G2 The people who got sick used street-purchased THC cartridges -- completely different from bonafide vaping products purchased at vape shops. Nicotine (or 0 mg e-liquid) does not use Vitamin E acetate -- that is the substance that made people sick. Regular e-liquid is alcohol based.
8
@Sara G2 no, they are not. Studies show that e-cigarettes (particularly flavored) are an effectiveway to move people off of cigarettes to
a product that's 95% safer. It's harm reduction 101. The deaths have to do with tainted thc products, which are already banned in most states, creating a black market and in turn unsafe products.
8
@Sara G2
People are not dying from e cigarettes. This is just reefer madness redux.
2
We banned alcohol. Oops, that didn't work.
We banned marijuana. Huh, that didn't work either.
If we ban flavored vapes, that must work!
...
Banning things is a knee-jerk reaction to issues. It doesn't work. Teenagers have drank and smoked marijuana for ages, even though it was "illegal."
I don't what the answer is to this issue, but banning it won't work.
78
@Daniel Here is the answer, read my post.
Typical pol., not just Trump but a majority of them ie don't do something even if they believe it's right because he they view it as. not being politically popular.
Having said however, I agree with Trump, a vice should never be outright banned.
Regulate it, hold people responsible for the downside and don't promote it. If you ban it outright you open up the black market and crime.
The above worked wonders with drunk driving and cig. smoking re a dramatic drop in death and sickness and has been a miserable failure with our gun death epidemic in this county because we have not employed the above cure.
13
Certainly, some people will flout the ban, but it is a matter of scale. Why would manufacturers spend millions advertising a product if it had no effect on consumption?
10
If the “thing” is a killer, might be a good idea to ban it..
9
Amazing. His solid 35 percent or whatever of the electorate sways policy. Better someone die or become disabled from e cigs (pushing the cost of care on the tax payer) than lose one single vote
40
Makes complete sense for our times. Really, it does.
1. The potus, as usual, does not think the idea through; consider that had he, he would likely not have advocated for it from the get-go.
2. As a result he exposes himself once more as the incompetent, misguided administrator he is, and,
3. His supporters remain under his boot having to support another of his errant, hurtful projects, this time involving our children. All this so that he will not lose votes from his base and the GOP wimps will not incur his wrath.
"This is the way the world ends...."
26
He did the same with gun regulations after mass shootings. He predictably prioritizes big business interests over public safety.
333
@Anon very little of the vaping industry is big business (except for Juul, which would ultimately benefit because they would survive while their competition was mostly pushed out). Guns are a weapon, e-cigarettes (and flavored ones in particular) are a harm reduction device shown to be more effective than other methods (patches, gum) at keeping adults off of cigarettes. Comparing the two is nonsensical.
3
@Anon It is more fundamental than that. As a Narcissist, he cannot abide any criticism or perceived judgment, especially at close range. Someone with direct access to him must have shamed him out of the position.
6
@Phineas Dogg
Anon is not really comparing the two products, but rather the two decisions POTUS has made for his own interest rather than the interest of the U.S. and its people.
11
Money and votes the only currency he understands.
64
Yet another example of the inherent dangers of Trump’s anti-science administration.
And when a politician cares more about your vote than your welfare, you’ve become their enabler rather than their constituent.
60
Justification: Vaping overwhelming affects youth, who don't vote Republican.
We now have decades of work to fix this disaster.
8
Just another reminder that Donny is more concerned about himself staying in public view than he is about what is good for America and its citizens. This attitude alone should be enough to impeach him and remove him from office. He is not doing his job. CEOs of companies that do harm are fired, and he should be as well.
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@Mountain Dragonfly Legal vaping products are not the cause of the recent deaths. And many say that bans on vaping products will lead to more deaths, as smoking increases. Trump's decision is the right one, as more analysis is needed. The fact that you think a policy disagreement with the President should be grounds for impeachment speaks volumes.
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@R.P. The point being made is that Trump makes decisions based on personal gains instead of what is best for the country---that's actually an impeachable offense and is why he is undergoing an impeachment inquiry.
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@Geneva9 It's a "personal gain" for the President because voters support his action? That's an odd argument to make.
Votes or public health? Decisions, decisions.
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Why can’t he ever be on the right side of any issue? There is a sinister mathematical precision to it.
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Americans need to understand that they exist only to provide profits to businesses, they have no other value in the minds of a large segment of the business community, whom Trump was elected to support. If a certain number die from rogue guns or power plant emissions or vaping, that's just a cost of doing business.
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Maybe the government should focus on getting rid of the actual problem, illegal aftermarket cartridges and candy flavor knockoffs, rather than heavy handedly banning something that’s been around for 10 years with no prior issues.
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@John: A good idea to get rid of the illegal aftermarket cartridges and candy flavor knockoffs, but for 10 years people have been getting addicted to nicotine from vaping. The issues with cartridges, flavors, and knockoffs is real but solving that won't solve the crisis of addiction that has been mounting for all of that time.
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Sure, why not? Everything revolves around his re-election. Even people's welfare and health. What other president would have gotten away with this? Let's see how his base and his congressional enablers defend this little tidbit.
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@beth wright do you have a grasp of the 14th Amendment? I dont want any government interference with my children.
What a keen business mind the president has- the people that die cannot vote anyway, so what's the harm in backing down? What a tremendous backbone he has for making such a self-sustaining move rather than taking a path that protects his citizens.
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@vtdavidr Why worry about vaping when people are going to die from coal pollution anyway?
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@vtdavidr vaping doesn’t kill. Please educate yourself. The deaths are due to illicit thc products cut with vitamin e which, when inhaled, causes acute inflammation in the lungs.
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@vtdavidr vaping doesn’t kill. Please educate yourself. The deaths are due to illicit thc products cut with vitamin e which, when inhaled, causes acute inflammation in the lungs.
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