The Canadian Cancer Society is applauding the provincial government decision to introduce legislation to curb the growing use of e-cigarettes by BC’s youth.
The move makes British Columbia the third province, after Ontario and Nova Scotia, to regulate e-cigarettes.
“We know that up to 20 percent of 15-to-19-year-olds in Canada have tried e-cigarettes which opens the door to trying, and becoming addicted to, tobacco products,” Khairun Jivani, director of Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention for Canadian Cancer Society in BC and the Yukon, said in a statement released on Friday, March 6. “The society has serious concerns that e-cigarette use, and the marketing of e-cigarettes, will renormalize smoking and undermine years of tobacco control efforts. We congratulate the government of BC and the Ministry of Health for this important legislation, which will positively impact the health and well-being of our youth.”
Prior to the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, there were no age restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes, meaning they could be sold to minors without consequence. With the addition of fruit and candy flavours, and manufacturers promoting the products as something that can be used anywhere and anytime, the society is concerned that youth will be enticed to try e-cigarettes.
