KIRO NIGHTS

The ‘most important thing’ in Washington’s bid to curb vaping

Feb 6, 2020, 12:50 PM

Vaping...

Could a vaping ban do more harm than good? (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

A recently-added amendment that would have permanently banned flavored vaping products, instead limits sales to anyone 21 and over. That being so, the part of the bill we really need to pay attention to isn’t related to flavors at all.

Mike: Washington’s vaping ban is little more than a political ploy

“The most important thing is a limit on nicotine,” said KIRO Nights co-host Mike Lewis.

The proposal on the table in Olympia significantly limits the amount of nicotine allowed in vape products, with Juul currently including nearly three times as much as what the bill would allow, should it be approved.

Limiting nicotine is a measure that’s largely proved successful in Great Britain, where there have been far fewer instances of lung illness, and a decreasing number of smokers. In fact, in the United Kingdom, there have been zero deaths and “few if any cases of lung illness directly attributed to vaping,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

“So for kids, it wasn’t the flavors, it was the fact they were getting addicted,” Lewis pointed out.

Vape store struggling with sales and layoffs due to WA flavored vaping ban

The intended goal for Washington’s own legislation was originally to limit vaping among kids. The hope was that by making a temporary ban on flavored vape products permanent, it would discourage teenagers from picking up the habit.

That saw pushback from the vaping industry statewide, who have argued that a ban would severely hurt businesses, and only lead to a larger, more-prevalent black market.

According to The Seattle Times, Gov. Jay Inslee is “disappointed” with the new amendment simply limiting flavored products to 21-and-up consumers, and his office intends to continue pushing a full ban down the line.

Listen to KIRO Nights weeknights from 7 – 10 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

KIRO Nights on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to kiro nightsTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 7 pm for KIRO Nights with Jack Stine.

KIRO Nights

KIRO Nights

machete...

Matt Butler, KIRO Nights and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

The tale of a local hero and his machete

Nafi Quatamin owns the Salena One Market in Tacoma. Like many small stores in the area, his market has been targeted for robbery.

1 month ago

Image:A Mexican Mariachi band surrounded by heart-shaped balloons awaits the arrival of a couple's ...

Matt Butler

KIRO Nights on dating rules, timeframes: How long is too long to wait?

Deborah Graham's mention of the rule of threes provoked some polar opposite opinions from listeners.

1 month ago

smart phone...

Frank Sumrall

Skorheim: ‘I’m not going to give my kids a smartphone’

"I think it's very dangerous to give kids smartphones at too young of an age," KIRO Nights host Jake Skorheim said.

3 months ago

Image: A rest area sign advertising free coffee can be seen in the state of Washington....

Jake Skorheim

Skorheim: How do you feel about WSDOT’s $10M bathrooms?

WSDOT says the agency needs $500 million to fix their 47 aging rest stops throughout the state.

4 months ago

Image: Fireworks go off at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 3, 2020, near Keystone, South D...

Matt Butler

Which artists, groups belong on Seattle’s music Mount Rushmore

KIRO personalities debated and discussed the music that defines Seattle and what artists belong on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle music.

5 months ago

bob rivers...

Matt Butler

Spike O’Neill reflects on 25 years with Bob Rivers amid radio HOF induction

There began what would become a 25-year Seattle radio legacy with Bob Rivers and company bringing "Twisted Radio" to morning drives.

5 months ago

The ‘most important thing’ in Washington’s bid to curb vaping