Sales of flavored vape products banned; business owner reacts negatively

With two confirmed cases of vaping-related illnesses in Montana, Gov. Steve Bullock directed the state Department of Public Health and Human Services on Oct. 8 to execute an emergency ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.

The ban, which takes effect Oct. 22, follows similar measures adopted by other states in the wake of a string of e-cigarette-related illness, resulting in 21 deaths across the nation. Bullock also cited the popularity of flavored vaping products among the state’s youth.

“This is the right thing to do during the outbreak of these illnesses and deaths and it’s the right thing to do for the future leaders of our state,” Bullock said in a statement.

Bullock will keep the freeze in place for 120 days, the maximum time allowed by law, or until more evidence-based research about the effects of e-cigarette use becomes available.

Toya Laveway, tobacco prevention specialist with Lincoln County Public Health, said, “with illnesses and the death number rising, something needed to be done to protect our youth.”

Seventh and eighth graders are the most at-risk of using flavored e-cigs, followed by high school students, she said.

The prohibition includes the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products—including nicotine, THC, and CBD vaping products—in-store and online. In the days since Bullock made the announcement, Pop’s Vapor shop, in downtown Libby, has posted signs urging customers to buy flavored products “while you still can.”

Owner Sandra Faye Duthit posted on Facebook, “This is a sad for us at Pop’s Vapor Shop, but we will continue to fight.”