Dems: Report shows need for e-cigarette regulations

Democrats called for more federal regulations of e-cigarettes.

“If last year’s Centers for Disease Control report on the growing number of kids using e-cigarettes was a call to action, then this new CDC data on the marketing of these dangerous devices is the sound of an alarm,” a group of lawmakers said.

{mosads}Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) issued the joint statement on Thursday.

Their comments came after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showed that teens using e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke conventional cigarettes. They said this new information proves that there should be more government regulations on the product.

“This study is further evidence that the absence of federal regulation has resulted in an explosion of marketing for e-cigarettes and the number of kids and young adults who want to try smoking them,” the lawmakers said. “FDA has an existing mechanism to protect children now, and the scientific evidence has never been clearer: strong regulatory action on the marketing of e-cigarettes to children cannot wait.”

A trade group representing the electronic cigarette industry called the CDC report “deceptive” and demanded a retraction. 

Lawmakers have complained that e-cigarette producers are targeting children with Gummi Bear flavored nicotine in order to ensure they have a future customer base.