New York state bans flavored e-cigarettes over vaping concerns

New York became the second US state to ban flavored e-cigarettes Tuesday, following several deaths linked to vaping that have raised fears about a product long promoted as less harmful than smoking.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that he hoped to pass emergency legislation to outlaw flavored vaping products after Michigan became the first state to ban them earlier this month.

The Trump administration proposed a federal ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarette products to discourage vaping, especially by minors, who gravitate toward the sweeter varieties. The proposed ban would only allow the sale of tobacco-flavored vapes.

More than a quarter of US high school students used e-cigarettes in the past month, up from 20.8 percent of students last year, according to preliminary data released by the Health and Human Services Department on Wednesday.

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