Physicians pleased with new restrictions on vaping products

The New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) is pleased to learn that government this week passed legislation to prohibit the sale of all flavoured e-liquids, vaping products that appeal to youth. This is a positive step. Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction and expose users to harmful chemicals that can damage lung tissue. Other long-term health impacts remain unknown. We must continue efforts to reduce the appeal of vaping to our youth. Government also passed legislation requiring specialty vape stores to be licensed.

The NBMS has been working with the Canadian Cancer Society; the New Brunswick Lung Association; and Dr. Kerrie Luck, PhD, a Certified Tobacco Educator, to advocate for stronger legislation to reduce the impact of vaping and tobacco products on youth. We continue to advocate for legislation to set maximum allowable nicotine levels, ban sales except in adult-only specialty vape shops, increase taxation on e-cigarettes, and raise the minimum legal age to purchase e-cigarettes and tobacco products to 21.

The all-party support for initiatives to reduce youth vaping is positive, and we thank the Members of the Legislative Assembly for supporting efforts to reduce youth vaping. We have more work to do, and we are encouraged by the steps taken this week.

Dr. Jeff Steeves, President, New Brunswick Medical Society