MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County delegate is proposing vaping product warning signs for businesses that sell the items.
Delegate Rodney Pyles, D-Monongalia, said his proposal is a response to concerns nationwide.
“Over 2,000 people have become ill since March,” Pyles said. “Actually 40 deaths have been attributed to vaping.”
Under Pyles proposal, businesses selling vaping items would be required to display a sign explaining the dangers to potential consumers.
Pyles said many people have told him vaping allowed them to stop cigarette smoking and they did not want to see the products banned.
“Something that helped them stop smoking,” Pyles said. “And they are concerned about the products being taken off the market, I was trying to come up with something short of an outright ban that would still address the problem.”
Businesses that do not comply could be fined up to $500 under the proposal.
Pyles joins state Senator Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, who are among the lawmakers calling for some action.
Beach wrote a letter to Gov. Jim Justice earlier this month calling on Justice to declare a public health emergency to prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.
Beach said he wants to start the conversation about ending Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).
“The entire intent of my letter is to just bring awareness,” Beach said. “I do not expect the governor to take action on it, but I do expect it to create conversations, strong conversations in our neighborhoods.”
In response to those overdoses, police have arrested one juvenile and confiscated about 100 vape cartridges.
There’s been no response from the Justice administration.