CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation Wednesday prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning devices in West Virginia.
House Bill 2520 was overwhelmingly approved in both chambers of the Legislature; the House of Delegates voted 80-18 in approval, and the Senate followed with a 28-6 vote.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network supported the bill prior to Justice’s signing.
“There is no such thing as a ‘healthy’ tan, so it is important to guard the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays to reduce the risks of skin cancer,” said Juliana Frederick, the organization’s West Virginia government relations director, in a statement.
According to the British Medical Journal, using indoor tanning beds before the age of 35 can increase the chances of getting melanoma by 59 percent.
“We also know that the earlier a person starts tanning, the greater the risk of getting melanoma and other skin cancers later in life,” Frederick said.
The bill will go into effect July 7, which is 90 days after it was passed by the Legislature.