NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some of the largest healthcare organizations in the state have signed and sent a letter to Gov. Lee, urging that he and the Tennessee General Assembly take action against vaping products.
Coordinated by the Tennessee Medical Association and signed by 16 organizations in the state, the letter calls out the rise in illnesses linked to vaping, including a number of cases in Tennessee.
"The Tennessee Department of Health recently reported that there are now three dozen cases of vaping-related illness in our state, a seven-fold increase during the month of September," the letter reads. "The Centers for Disease Control has reported more than 1,000 cases nationally, including 18 deaths in 15 states."
The letter adds that the vaping industry's growth has outpaced research about potential risks. It also points out that many healthcare organizations have begun encouraging youth not to vape, before ultimately calling on the governor's administration to restrict Tennessee's youth from being able to get vaping products.
"We...are asking your administration to take a firm stance on this important public health issue by implementing an emergency temporary measure to restrict Tennessee youth from obtaining vaping products, and encouraging the General Assembly to take more permanent legislative action when it convenes in 2020."
To read the full letter and see the organizations that signed it, head to the Tennessee Medical Association website.
