SALT LAKE CITY — Vape stores and other retailers that sell vaping products in Utah must now post a notice warning consumers about potential lung injuries related to electronic cigarette use.
A rash of nationally reported deaths and investigations into new cases of lung disease prompted the Utah Department of Health to file an emergency administrative rule Wednesday aimed at reducing the number of vaping-related injury cases in Utah.
At least 71 cases of vaping-related lung injury have been reported in Utah, with another 10 under review, according to the health department. Forty-five of those patients have been hospitalized and 26 spent time in the intensive care unit.
“Mounting evidence points to the vaping of unregulated THC products as a possible reason for this outbreak,” said Dr. Joseph Miner, executive director at the Utah Department of Health.
The rule prohibits general tobacco retailers from selling flavored e-cigarettes, including unregulated THC-containing products. Only specialty tobacco retailers are able to sell flavored cartridges in Utah.
“We are grateful to the Utah Department of Health for taking steps to help make Utahns aware of the potential dangers of vaping certain products,” said Anna Lehnhardt, spokeswoman for the Utah Governor’s Office. She said they anticipate lawmakers talking more about it during the upcoming general legislative session.
“We welcome that discussion, and we also think it prudent to take some measured steps now to help protect Utahns from serious lung illnesses,” Lehnhardt said.
All Utah retailers that sell vaping products are being asked to post a notice of potential harm from using the products. Flavor bans and other forms of prohibition are in the works in Utah and across the nation, particularly to restrict access to teens, whose use rates have skyrocketed.
“Youth and young adults have been hit especially hard,” Miner said.
He said youth often start with products that contain nicotine, but often turn to those that contain THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the main psychoactive component of cannabis.
Ninety-four percent of Utah’s lung injury cases have been tied to vaping THC products, and 64 percent of victims self-reported vaping nicotine. Of those who reported vaping nicotine, most said they purchased their products at Utah vape shops or convenience stores.
“Moving these products to age-restricted specialty shops will restrict young people’s access to them and can reduce the number of users who eventually move on to vaping THC,” Miner said.
Retailers will have until Oct. 7 to comply with the new emergency rule, which will remain in place for 120 days. The health department will work to implement a permanent rule while the emergency rule is in place.