Full disclosure: I am a lifelong Mississippian and a grandmother many times over. My great passion is the welfare and future of my grandchildren, who absolutely own my heart. They range in age from seven to nineteen, and I pay close attention to pop culture, which has a powerful influence in every area of their lives. Unsurprisingly, many cultural trends offend my Baby Boomer value system, but I try to choose my battles. I have chosen to fight this one.
The alarming rise in the usage of illegal vapes from China among middle schoolers and high schoolers should have every parent, grandparent, legislator, and law enforcement officer speaking loudly and prioritizing a solution. The potential long-term harm to our youths’ mental and physical health from these products in one short season of poor decisions is too significant to ignore.
I have discovered through conversations with younger friends who teach in our schools that vaping is a widespread and growing problem in both public and independent schools. Our youth across every demographic — socio-economic, gender, racial, and others are being enticed to engage in vaping. The entire practice of vaping is relatively easy to conceal from parents, teachers, and any adult who would disapprove. Thus, there is attraction and the erroneous hope that vaping will relieve the pressures and problems of life.
The rise in youth vaping is due to the influx of illegal Chinese-made disposable e-cigarettes that are flooding our nation, generating billions in sales for unscrupulous companies. They are manufactured in appealing candy flavors, like Tropical Rainbow Blast, and purposely marketed to students as young as sixth grade. Incidentally, China bans the sale of these same flavored vapes within its borders and has a strict enforcement policy that prevents the sale of these products there. However, 90% of the world’s e-cigarettes are manufactured in China and exported mostly to the U.S.
Yet due to lax enforcement by the FDA, these illegal Chinese-made disposable vapes in candy flavors continue to line the shelves of vape retail stores and many convenience stores. I went to check this out myself. The number of brands has grown by 46% in the last three years, making it impossible to effectively regulate. In the rare instance there is a seizure by law enforcement, the Chinese supplier can quickly change its name and continue to import the illegal product. The disinterested enforcement by the Biden administration makes it essential that Mississippi take care of its own.
Critical legislation is before our Mississippi legislature at this very moment. These bills aim to establish a directory comprised of vaping products that can be legally marketed and sold in the U.S. This commonsense solution aims to assist retailers in identifying permissible products while also aiding law enforcement and regulatory agencies in holding companies that target our kids accountable. The penalties of ignoring the directory should be significant.
Make sure your legislator knows you are following these vapor directory bills and that you support their efforts to protect our youth and keep these dangerous illegal vaping products from China out of kids’ reach.
Marilyn Tinnin is a Ridgeland resident.
