Following the incident in which more than 1,000 mysterious cases of vaping-related illness and 18 related deaths were reported in the United States, there was a ban on all types of #e-cigarettes that do not taste like tobacco. Massachusetts had already imposed a ban on selling any #vapingproducts, a drastic move litigated in the state court. Several other states, including Washington, Rhode Island, Michigan, Oregon, and New York, have banned fruit and candy flavors. 

Maryland has also banned the sale of e-cigarette flavors. According to state records, more than 8,400 retailers in Maryland have a license to sell tobacco products, and many of them sell flavored disposable devices. The ban allows the state to search retailers, and if any such product is found, it will be seized, and the store can face strict disciplinary actions. 

However, banning flavored cigarettes and vaping products to curb tobacco use amongst youngsters while leaving the more dangerous #tobaccoproducts in circulation can prove to be a costly decision. This is because #addictiontotobacco is a habit that is hard to overcome. 

Kids already addicted to tobacco will find it very difficult to restrain themselves. On the other hand, people attracted to #flavoredvapeproducts will be left with only the more harmful tobacco products, which can lead to addiction.

This ban will promote more illegal activity, the potential to create a black market which would further increase crime rates, product hoarding, loss of revenue related to menthol cigarettes, increase the number of young smokers, and further criminalization of people of color.

Legislating laws for a #flavoredcigaretteban like this might not effectively curb tobacco use amongst younger people. However, it has the potential to wreak havoc on the small businesses that make their living by selling tobacco-related products. 

The small shops that mainly sell flavored tobacco products will suffer heavy losses, especially without additional products to bring in revenue. Some of them may even be forced out of business. 

Moreover, many people use these flavored products to transition from tobacco, helping many quit smoking. In the absence of these flavored cigarettes and vape products, these ex-smokers might revert to their old habit of regular tobacco products. Considering all the aspects, the ban on menthol and other flavors like fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, mint, and more, can prove to be “the wrong solution at the wrong time,” says Ex-Del Frank Turner.