Board of Health approves Washington ban on flavored vaping products effective Thursday

Health officials in Washington state on Wednesday formally adopted a temporary ban on the sale of flavored vaping products amid concern over a lung illness that has sickened hundreds of people. The vote by the state Board of Health came two weeks after Gov. Jay Inslee issued an executive order asking for the emergency rule to be issued. The board's vote was unanimous, with one member abstaining, and the rule is expected to take effect this week. Hundreds of vaping supporters packed the public hearing in Seattle, and dozens of them testified against the order before the board, saying it will drive people to black market products or back to smoking tobacco. The ban, initially slated to last four months but which could be renewed, will apply to flavored products containing nicotine as well as the flavored products with the cannabis extract THC.