Less than a month ago, flavored e-cigarette cartridges were banned in Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the ban on September 4 after considerable amounts of fruity flavors were found to attract youth.

The epidemic started with advertisements in 2018 when appealing flavors for teens appeared on the market. Ads included flavors like Candy King Batch designed to taste like Sour Patch Kids, V’Nilla Cookies and Milk which mimics Nilla Wafers, and Drippin’ Whip which tastes like whipped cream, according to Truth Initiative, a nonprofit public health organization committed to making tobacco use a thing of the past.

Vaping companies posted ads on popular teen social media platforms and sponsored music festivals to attract young audiences. Some, like SlickVapes, even offered scholarships for essays on vaping related topics.

Their efforts may be working. There was an unsigned flyer posted in the freshman hall pleading others to oppose the ban. The anonymous part asks others to call Governor Whitmer and other people in the state legislature. The poster defends the right of citizens’ voices to be heard. This party believes that there are other legislative solutions that could be taken instead of removal of vaping juices except for those that contain nicotine.

The ban will take effect in a few weeks. Then, businesses will have 30 days to comply. The ban will last for 6 months. 

“I don’t support the ban,” former student Elizabeth Salyer said. “I don’t think the ban on vapes is fair to the people of age who can actually consume it legally.”

Many are watching to see how these sorts of concerns will be addressed going forward.

“The rules last for 6 months and can be renewed for another 6 months,” Deputy Press Secretary Chelsea Lewis for Governor Whitmer said.  “MDHHS [Michigan Department of Health and Human Services] will also start the process for permanent rules to be in place when emergency rules expire after 12 months,” Lewis said. 

After reaching out to the corporate offices of Wild Bill’s Tobacco, The Smoker’s Club of Chelsea and The Tobacco Shoppe of Jackson, all companies politely declined to comment, saying that they have had other organizations misquote them.