Influential Pro-Vaping Industry Fighting Against Raimondo's Efforts to Curb Sales

Influential Pro-Vaping Industry Fighting Against Raimondo's Efforts to Curb Sales

Governor Gina Raimondo is planning an announcement on Wednesday to curb sales of vaping products, but Rhode Island's vaping industry is fighting back. The industry has tapped some of the most influential lobbyists and public relation firms in the state. 

This comes a day after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a temporary four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products as part of a public health emergency.

In Massachusetts, the sales ban applies to all vaping products and devices, including tobacco and marijuana.

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The ban takes effect immediately and lasts through January 25, 2020.

“The use of e-cigarettes and marijuana vaping products is exploding and we are seeing reports of serious lung illnesses, particularly in our young people. The purpose of this public health emergency is to temporarily pause all sales of vaping products so that we can work with our medical experts to identify what is making people sick and how to better regulate these products to protect the health of our residents,” said Baker.

Battle in Rhode Island

But advocates of vaping have scheduled a State House rally for Wednesday morning. The rally, titled “GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO, I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE AWAY MY RIGHT TO VAPE,”  is intended to stop the anti-vaping campaign.

The vaping industry in Rhode Island has been aggressive in promoting their products. As GoLocal reported in 2016, an e-cigarette “vaping" lounge with locations in Rhode Island - including the Providence Place Mall - touted being a “healthy alternative” to help quit smoking, but national anti-smoking groups disagree, and when a study three years ago showed vapor from electronic cigarettes contains two previously undiscovered cancer-causing chemicals.

“White Horse Vapor, a Rhode Island-based national leader in the growing vaping industry, celebrates its first anniversary as a successful national franchising company next month,” said David Preston’s PR firm New Harbor Group for its client in a press release, touting its mall and Mineral Spring Avenue locations, as well as Cavalry Bar and Lounge in downtown Providence.  “Vaping, a term used to describe puffing of an electronic cigarette, has become a healthy alternative to reducing or eliminating nicotine without the harmful smoke in tobacco cigarettes.”

Preston's firm pushed the vaping industry -- he is a State House lobbyist and a former top Democratic staffer.

This year, the lobbyist for the vaping industry -- the Vapor Technology Association -- is former Speaker of the House Bill Murphy. He is paid $3,750 a month.

The PR push claimed, “Vaping has proven to be the best way for people to stop smoking,” said Dino Baccari, Founder and President of White Horse Vapor in the press release.  “This explains its booming popularity, and why it has proven so successful in the marketplace.”

Ban in RI

Raimondo addressed the vaping issue -- and her plan of action -- with members of press at the State House on Tuesday. 

"That's what I'm looking at," said Raimondo, when asked if she was considering an executive order for an e-cigarette ban in Rhode Island. "I'll have an announcement [on Wednesday]."

When asked if it would mirror Massachusetts -- after Baker declared the public health emergency and four-month ban on vaping sales -- Raimondo offered the following:

"I will be as strong as I can, pushing the limits of my authority, because I think it's a public health crisis. We're dotting our "i"s and crossing our "t"s with the lawyers today to make sure we get it right."

CDC Numbers

According to week-old data from the U.S. Center for Disease and Controls

There are 530* cases of lung injury reported from 38 states and 1 U.S. territory.

Seven deaths have been confirmed in 6 states. [that number has increased to 9 according to press reports]

CDC has received complete sex and age data on 373 of 530 cases.

Nearly three fourths (72%) of cases are male

Two thirds (67%) of cases are 18 to 34 years old

16% of cases are under 18 years and 17% are 35 years or older

COVER PHOTO: Vaping Flickr