Trump to hold meeting on vaping Friday

US President Donald Trump will meet with vaping industry representatives and medical officials Friday after he backed off on a nationwide ban on flavored e-cigarettes that sparked opposition from manufacturers of vaping products and those who use them.

"There is a serious problem among our youth and their growing addiction to e-cigarettes, the White House said Wednesday in a statement. "The policy-making process is not stalled — it continues to move forward."

Advocacy groups, medical associations and state officials also will attend the meeting.

In September, Trump said he was considering a ban on the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes that appeal to teenagers.

But Trump earlier this month delayed a proposed ban of sweet, fruity e-cigarette flavors after pushback from vape shop owners, e-cigarette users and advisors who said prohibiting the products would damage his 2020 election prospects in key swing states.

The president has said he favors raising to 21 from 18 the minimum age for purchasing vaping products, a position favored by Juul Labs, the market leader in the sector.

In the US, about 2,100 people have gotten sick from vaping, and 42 have died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

More than 27.5 percent of high school students in the US use e-cigarettes, up from 20.7 percent in 2018, the CDC's National Youth Tobacco Survey found.

Many who have become ill due to the use of e-cigarettes said they also vaped products that contained THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana that gives users a "high" or "buzz". Such products often contain vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent. The link to illness isn't conclusive, and more research is needed, the CDC said.

Juul, which holds about 70 percent of the e-cigarette market and is the target of several federal investigations, has said that it has stopped accepting orders for most flavored pods in the US and has suspended all broadcast, print and digital advertising.

Lawsuits filed against Juul this week by the attorneys general of New York and California allege that the company deliberately marketed and sold vaping products to young people and helped create a public health crisis. The lawsuits allege that the company specifically targeted young people with deceptive advertising featuring flavors like mango, cool mint and cucumber. They charge that the company failed to warn customers that the products contain nicotine, misrepresented them as a safer alternative to cigarettes and illegally sold them to minors. The attorney general of North Carolina announced a similar lawsuit in May.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help people quit using tobacco.

So far, no vaping products have been reviewed or approved for that use by the FDA.

The AMA, which represents the nation's doctors, voted Tuesday in San Diego to request that federal and state governments prohibit the general sale of vaping and e-cigarette products and said the products should be available only by prescription.

The medical association also recommended more study on the use of drug and non-drug treatments to deal with nicotine addiction. The doctors called for diagnostic codes for e-cigarette and vaping associated illnesses, which would help researchers better identify patients with lung injuries stemming from vaping.

Some criticized the AMA's proposal, saying legal tobacco products have been proven to cause more health problems than e-cigarettes.

Last week, the Massachusetts House voted 126-31 to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products and impose a 75 percent excise tax on e-cigarettes. Proponents said the action will discourage children and teenagers from vaping and help prevent them from becoming hooked on nicotine. The state Senate is expected to take up the measure soon.

Earlier this week, about 100 people gathered outside the capitol in Boston to protest the ban on flavored tobacco products and chanted, "We vote! We vape!"

Eric Tarvin told CBS Boston he went from generating $1.2 million a year from the sale of vaping-related products to receiving an unemployment check after closing his three stores.

In September, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker banned the sale of all vaping products for four months after declaring a public health emergency.

Also on Tuesday, a US House of Representatives panel advanced a sweeping ban on flavored tobacco — including vaping products — as Democrats condemned President Trump's decision to hold off on his plans for restrictions. The panel approved the measure on a 28-24 vote largely along party lines.