Massachusetts lawmakers pass flavored tobacco, vaping products ban

Massachusetts lawmakers passed legislation Thursday to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products as well as menthol cigarettes.

In addition to the ban, the bill would introduce a 75 percent excise tax on remaining vaping products and would force health care providers to pay for tobacco cessation counseling, according to The Associated Press.

Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has given no indication whether or not he’ll sign the bill into law, although recent actions he has taken suggest he would be unlikely to veto the legislation, the AP noted.

In September, the governor put a temporary ban on the sale of vaping products and declared a public health emergency for the state.

Under the bill, the sale of flavored vaping products would become prohibited immediately and the sale of menthol cigarettes would take effect June 1.

If enacted, the legislation would be the first of its kind in the United States.