Bill to ban flavored vape products, menthol cigarettes clears committee.

Byline: Anthony Vecchione

Aimed at reducing the growing number of minors using electronic smoking devices including 25 percent of high schoolers three assembly democrats have sponsored legislation to ban the sale of flavored vaping products in New Jersey. Assembly Bill 3178would also ban the sale of traditional menthol cigarettes.

On Thursday, that bill passed the Assembly Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

"Our state cannot and will not ignore the widespread use of these harmful nicotine products among adolescents," said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-7th District. "Flavored products are designed to attract young people, which is one of the reasons why most traditional cigarette flavors were banned a decade ago."

"Menthol is the only combustible cigarette flavor still permitted in our country, despite the fact that these cigarettes historically targeted African Americans, enhance the addictive effects of nicotine and accelerate cancer and other fatal diseases. It's high time we get both new and old flavored nicotine products off the market to help protect our youth," said Conaway.

"The nicotine in e-cigarettes is just as harmful as that of traditional cigarettes, yet many people may not realize just how detrimental nicotine really is for anyone under the age of 25," said Assemblywoman Carol...