TACIR approves youth vaping report, removes sentence that could be read as endorsing vaping

The commission approved its final report on youth vaping after amending the draft to remove a sentence that commissioners and outside stakeholders said could be interpreted as minimizing the harms of vaping.

Senior Research Associate Jennifer Arzate presented the report prepared under Public Chapter 937 (Acts of 2024). The study examined initiation, health outcomes, enforcement of underage sales, school discipline, taxation, and access to cessation services among people under 21. Arzate summarized staff recommendations: require universal carding for vapor product purchases (card all purchasers regardless of apparent age), consider licensing for vapor product retailers (including tobacco and nicotine products) to help inspectors identify retailers, increase consistent funding for the Tennessee Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program to expand prevention and cessation services, and require the Tennessee Department of Education to collect more detailed discipline data including vaping offenses.

Several members and outside stakeholders — including Judge Carla Ellis and advocacy groups — expressed concern that one sentence in the draft (noting that switching completely from smoking to vaping could “potentially” benefit some smokers) might be misleading and minimize vaping risks. After discussion, Dr. Lippert recommended striking the sentence; a motion to remove the sentence carried. The commission also agreed to strengthen a page heading to read that vaping “is harmful.”

The principal recommendations otherwise remained unchanged; commissioners approved the report as amended by voice vote.