BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health has released new resources to help businesses comply with the updated Clean Indoor Air Act. As of July 1, 2024, the act prohibits electronic smoking devices, such as vapes and e-cigarettes, in all indoor areas open to the public. “When the original Clean Indoor Air Act passed in 2007, electronic smoking devices were not […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The e-cigarette company JUUL Labs has agreed to pay $8 million in a multi-million dollar settlement with the city of Baltimore for marketing to minors and endangering the health of city residents, officials announced this week. According to a press release from the city of Baltimore, the settlement came after a lawsuit filed in 2020 by the city alleged […]
PERRY HALL, MD—Baltimore County Councilman David Marks announced on Tuesday that Perry Hall High School would receive a grant of approximately $800 to assist with anti-smoking awareness. The funds will be used to educate students in health and physical education classes about the dangers of tobacco use, with a particular focus on vaping. Grant funds are provided to Baltimore County […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Citing a growing number of reports about serious illnesses, lung disease, and deaths that are attributable to vaping, Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday announced that he would create a task force to examine the public health and safety implications of electronic smoking devices (ESD). “As Maryland’s chief tobacco regulator, my job is to safeguard public health, protect consumers and […]
TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Council voted on Tuesday to approve County Executive Johnny Olszewski’s proposal to increase the legal age for tobacco product sales in Baltimore County from 18 to 21 years of age and to expand the law to include all electronic smoking devices (ESD), component parts and accessories, otherwise known as vaping products. While Maryland recently raised age […]
BALTIMORE, MD— The Maryland Department of Health continues its investigation of severe lung illnesses, of which 20 cases have been identified in Maryland. MDH officials say they are working diligently with federal partners, local health departments, and clinicians around the state to investigate these severe lung illnesses. “This is a major public health concern,” said MDH officials in a statement, […]
BALTIMORE, MD – More alarm bells are going off for e-cigarette users. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy have identified five individuals who, in the last two months, developed severe lung illness after using e-cigarettes, often referred to as “vaping.” Respiratory symptoms reported by patients included shortness […]
NOTTINGHAM, MD – Just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of the potential dangers of vaping, the first U.S. death attributed to e-cigarettes appears to have occurred. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Friday reported the death of an individual who had recently vaped and was hospitalized with severe respiratory illness. IDPH officials say […]