Mexico: Deputies Postpone Debate on Total Vape Ban
The Mexican Chamber of Deputies has postponed the discussion on reforming the General Health Law to completely prohibit the distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes and vapes until next Tuesday. The decision was first made by the Political Coordination Board and later confirmed by the full Chamber.
The delay comes amidst criticism regarding the bill’s scope and potential consequences. Deputy Amancay González Franco (MC) pointed out a significant inconsistency: the proposed legislation bans vapes but apparently does not prohibit the commercialization of heated tobacco products. She argued that this creates a “tailor-made suit” for big tobacco companies like Philip Morris, whose heated tobacco product IQOS would remain the only legal option, despite WHO warnings about their harm.
González Franco also raised alarms about the severe penalties proposed for young people. As currently drafted, youths purchasing e-cigarettes could face 1 to 8 years in prison, a punishment she noted is harsher than that for possessing personal doses of cocaine or methamphetamine. “It will be more dangerous to buy a vape than to traffic drugs,” she emphasized. While supporting a ban on sales and advertising due to health risks, she opposes criminalizing youth and plans to introduce a reservation to remove this measure. Additionally, concerns were raised that the reform eliminates 8% of the Health Fund for Welfare dedicated to catastrophic diseases, potentially impacting cancer patients.
- Read more: Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies to Vote on Vape Ban Next Week
- News source: Diputados aplazan discusión de reforma que prohÃbe vapeadores
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