California State Assembly has acted on the law that prohibits minors from buying electronic cigarettes by extending it to include other devices that do not have nicotine cartridges.
The federal government has issued a warning on the increase in the number of high school students who use e-cigarettes. Vaping devices have also become a popular method among high school and middle school students to use tobacco products.
The Assembly acted on it through the amendment of the existing law, LA Times reported.
The state law originally only prohibited purchasing devices with nicotine cartridges. However, some teens found a way around it by buying e-cigarettes (that don't have nicotine cartridges) and then using them with cartridges containing other chemicals, like nicotine and even marijuana.
"These e-cigarettes and vape pens often target a younger audience with sweet-flavored compounds that carry the names of popular kids' treats such as 'Skittles,' and 'Kool-Aid'," Garcia said on the Assembly floor. "Although they don't have nicotine, these compounds have been shown to contain other harmful chemical compounds masked by the candy-flavored vapor."
"We need to act now, because more and more youth are putting themselves at risk of heart disease, stroke or even an early death," Garcia said. "These devices are hooking a new generation on nicotine and are a gateway to smoking traditional cigarettes."
The bill awaits the sanction from the senate.
