Gottheimer announces plan to blunt youth vaping

Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced a six-point plan to stem underage vaping Monday.

The plan includes a call to raise the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 nationally, ban all tobacco products from being sold online, bar the sale of non-tobacco electronic cigarettes and ban flavored nicotine vapor cartridges.

The plan also calls for e-cigarette manufacturers to include a one-way communication device in their products to allow schools to jam vapes on their premises.

“Plain and simple: We need a war on youth vaping. Today, I’m announcing a comprehensive battle plan, including six concrete steps, to help fight that war on underage vaping — and help put an end to the youth epidemic,” Gottheimer said. “We need to do everything we can to turn the tide, help our children stay healthy, and ensure they’re able to live long, happy, healthy lives. As a parent, that’s truly the goal here. Our schools need to be preparing our kids for the future, not preparing them for hospital visits, or worse.”