Ganja advocate wants ban on vaping devices

Ganja advocate Maxine Stowe is calling for a ban on the importation of vaping devices until Jamaicans can be guaranteed that they are getting high-quality products. The recent rise of acute lung illnesses linked to vaping has deepened concerns about the safety of the devices.

Stowe said that the Jamaican Government must move quickly to prevent inferior products reaching the country's shores.

"Once you have a product that's good, then you know they start making knock-offs. You know, it's the whole commercialisation [practice], and Jamaica, to me, is the place where they dump inferior products. That thing should be blocked. There should definitely be a ban on them until safe, certifiable products are available," she said.

Vaping is the act of inhaling compounds, which are produced by an e-cigarette or similar devices. Most vapes are electronic devices that use refillable tanks to house a concoction of chemicals and oils that can be combined with nicotine and flavourants.

The National Council on Drug Abuse yesterday said it is alarmed and deeply concerned about the prevelance of vaping among teenagers and young adults.

It said that the data indicate that 44 per cent of youth use vaping products to help them feel more comfortable at celebrations, parties and social gatherings.

Dr. Terry Baker, consultant pulmonologist and senior medical officer at the National Chest Hospital, said that cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, consist of nearly 600 additives, and tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 different compounds.

Dr. Baker said that some of the compounds are found in everyday products, such as rat poison, toilet cleaners and embalming fluid.