Doctors Oppose Marketing, Sales of E-Cigarettes to Minors

By Les Masterson

The Massachusetts Medical Society voted on last week to oppose marketing, sales and use of e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products especially to minors. 

The MMS joins a growing drumbeat of groups and officials voicing concern about e-cigarette use by minors.

The MMS voted to “continue to work with state lawmakers and officials to develop strategies to prevent the marketing, sale and use of those products for individuals within that age group.”

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and 39 other attorneys general recently asked federal regulators to ban sales of electronic cigarettes to minors and stop e-cigarette companies from marketing to youths.

There are no federal age restrictions on e-cigarettes and no rules about advertising e-cigarettes to youths. Big tobacco companies have recently entered the e-cigarette market and e-cigarette sales are expected to reach $1.7 billion this year.