PORT ANGELES — The four-month ban on flavored vaping products in Washington state ends today (Friday).
The state’s Board of Health implemented a temporary ban in October following a number of vaping-related illnesses and deaths, and was backed up by an executive order by Gov. Inslee asking for an emergency ban on flavored vaping products.
When the ban went into effect back in October, we talked with the employees of NorthWest Tobacco Emporium in Port Angeles to see how it was affecting business. They told us they were forced to remove 80% of their products from the shelves.
With the lifting of the ban four months later, we called back to get a reaction. Sales associate Mike Armstrong says the company, which also has a store in Sequim, took a big hit. He also describes what he sees as an unintended consequence of the ban.
“Well, how it totally affected the business is, really, it’s above my pay grade. But I can say that it did affect the business drastically. I do believe it was about 80 percent drop in sales within the first few days of the ban going into affect. It was quite devastating, mostly to the people that are trying to quit cigarettes and, you know, a lot of them did go back to smoking cigarettes.”
As of February 4, 25 vaping-related illnesses have been reported in Washington state since April of last year, according to the Department of Health. The products being used are a mix of nicotine and THC.
Nationwide, the number of vaping-related illnesses surpassed 1,000 by October. Doctors said the illnesses resemble an inhalation injury. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Most people who got sick said they vaped products containing THC, but some said they vaped only nicotine.
On December 20, the nationwide legal minimum age to smoke was raised from 18 to 21. Armstrong says that’s affected business as well.
“Well, before the law changed it was 18 and up. But within the store, there were certain things that were only accessible to 21-year-olds. But now the law is strictly: you have to be 21 to come in the store, and you must have an ID, and it must be a valid ID. So please bring your ID’s. I will be asking.
(Photo taken in October, 2019 after ban went into effect. Armstrong (front) showing us the empty shelves after removing 80% of their products.)