Massachusetts Pushes To Ban All Flavored Tobacco Products

If successful, the legislation would end the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes.

Hot on the heels of a 'state of emergency' ban on e- cigarettes, the state of Massachusetts is now moving ahead with legislation to ban all flavored tobacco products in the state.

According to WCVB TV 5, lawmakers say this is the time to make a permanent move. Senator John Keenan, one of the lawmakers behind the proposal said in the article: "We can't let the industry survive like they did before with menthol cigarettes, and then let them survive with flavors on the e-cigarette side. It has to be comprehensive."

The continued marketing of flavored tobacco products to youth through corner stores is something that has contributed to the epidemic, according to Jason Boyd, of the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation. WCVB TV 5 reported half of all Massachusetts high schoolers said they had used e-cigarettes at least once, as far back as 2015.

Proponents believe if the current temporary ban on vaping becomes permanent, children will move to more addictive alternatives. The key is to stop before it starts, and why flavored cigarettes must be included in the ban.

Keenan told WCVB TV 5: "For all those kids who've gotten addicted to nicotine, when they have to go somewhere, tobacco will welcome them right back to menthol."

Keenan said this could be voted on within the next month.