Statement Attributable to:
Patrice A. Harris M.D., M.A.
President, American Medical Association
“The American Medical Association commends Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for taking action today to ban flavored e-cigarettes, as well as the misleading marketing of these products to youth, in the state of Michigan. We strongly believe the use of e-cigarettes and vaping is an urgent public health epidemic that must be addressed.
“As we continue to urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban flavors, as well as marketing practices, that enhance the appeal of e-cigarette products to youth, we are pleased to see the state of Michigan take matters into its own hands to become the first to implement a statewide ban on flavored e-cigarette products. We encourage more jurisdictions to join Michigan in instituting similar flavoring bans to keep harmful tobacco products out of the hands of young people and prevent another generation from becoming dependent on nicotine.”
The AMA has long been committed to anti-tobacco efforts. We recognize that the use of products containing nicotine in any form among youth, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe and can cause addiction. More stringent policies will help protect our nation’s youth from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine use. We urge physicians to ensure patients are aware of the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes, including toxins and carcinogens.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
