HARTFORD, Conn. – Accusing electronic cigarette makers of taking their cues from the Joe Camel-era of tobacco marketing, U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced Monday an effort to ban the marketing e-cigarettes to kids.
The two lawmakers announced the legislation at a press conference in the Legislative Office Building. Blumenthal, Connecticut’s former attorney general, pointed to a display featuring Joe Camel, the discontinued cartoon mascot of Camel cigarettes. Camel axed the character in the 1990s amidst litigation claiming the cartoon was aimed at marketing tobacco to minors.
“I remember these ads well. They’re the reason that we sued Big Tobacco. They no longer exist,” Blumenthal said Monday. “Now Big Tobacco is buying e-cigarette companies. Do you think it is because Big Tobacco wants to promote smoking cessation? I don’t think so.”
The legislation is an attempt at weighing in on the growing and currently unregulated industry that makes vapor-based nicotine delivery products like e-cigarettes. There are no federal or state restrictions prohibiting sale of the products to children.
See the complete story at CT News Junkie.
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