TAMPA, FLA. (WFLA) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced a major investigation into how vaping companies in Florida are targeting minors.
Moody made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday morning at Plant High School.
“As a mother, I cannot sit on the sidelines while underage vaping skyrockets and our next generation becomes addicted to nicotine,” Moody said. “It’s illegal under Florida law to sell these products to anyone under 18, yet vaping among our youth is out of control.”
Moody says the investigation will focus on the marketing strategies of the vaping companies to see if they intentionally targeted minors and tempted them to vape.
In recent months, Moody has been on a mission to crack down on teen vaping.
In Florida, one in four high school students admit to vaping, according to the Florida Department of Health. There was a 58% increase in the use of e-cigarettes among high school students from 2017 to 2018.
The Attorney General has visited schools all around the state researching the issue. Her focus has been centered around why more youth are using E-Cigarettes, where teens are learning about vaping, and how they are getting vaping products.
In Florida, State Rep. Jackie Toledo plans to introduce legislation to raise the legal age to buy vaping and tobacco products to 21.
LATEST STORIES:
