Since electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were launched in 2003, the number of e-cigarette smokers (vapers) has gradually increased. The America Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of high school students who are vapers has increased by more than 78 percent between 2017 and 2018. Moreover, the mortality from e-cigarette is estimated to be eight, and the number of pulmonary disease patients is estimated at more than 500. For these reasons, not only for the U.S.A. but also other countries, including Malaysia, Canada and so on, have considered e-cigarette regulations. On top of this, China, India and other countries have announced that they banned e-cigarette.

In the beginning, e-cigarettes were known as one of the most effective aids that helped smokers quit smoking. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not gain regulatory power over e-cigarettes until 2016, and this led to the spread of e-cigarettes. According to the U.S.A. government research, more than a quarter of teenagers start vaping. On January first, 2020, a teenager who live in Texas died because of lung disease. This teenager vaped one month, so people start to know that e-cigarettes have more serious problem than cigar. Therefore, the government said an e-cigarette prohibition will help protect teenagers from addiction through e-cigarettes.

However, dissenters opposed the ban because vapers who suffer from lung diseases used e-cigarettes that included terahydrocannabinol (THC)¹⁾. Therefore, some dissenters said government needs to regulate THC not all kinds of e-cigarettes. They also worried that sweeping regulations could lead vapers to bring e-cigarettes from other illegal routes, which could enlarge the black market and could lead vapers to smokers. Moreover, others said that the e-cigarette market is growing and the number of vapers is estimated at more than 40 million. Therefore, it will inflict on the e-cigarette producing countries and retailers.

These arguments are still continuing and have made countries to consider regulation again. President Donald Trump announced that he would consider banning e-cigarette sales. However, because of the e-cigarette companies’ opposition, he eased the regulation. Currently, the U.S.A. raised the permissible age of smoking on all cigarettes, including e-cigarette, from 18 to 21 to lower the vaper rate among teenagers. Other countries are also discussing regulations, and informing people of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

1) THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis