EDITORIAL: Make youth possession of vape products illegal

The short- and long-term health effects caused by vaping nicotine and using other tobacco products is well documented in young people.

According to medical experts, nicotine exposure during the teenage years can harm brain development all the way through age 25. It can negatively impact learning, memory, concentration, self control and attention. Even in kids who don’t vape every day, it can contribute to anxiety and depression. And vaping nicotine and using other tobacco products often leads to addiction to other dangerous substances into adulthood.

So it’s clear kids shouldn’t have access to these substances, whether they buy it themselves or get them from some other source. New York needs to make possessing them illegal.

But before anyone panics about the police slapping the cuffs on kids when they catch them vaping on the corner, it’s not that kind of law.

The bill (A6248) specifically states that possession of vaping and tobacco materials is not an arrestable offense. There’s no conviction to go on someone’s criminal record, and being found in possession will not be an obstacle for getting a job in the public sector, holding public office or obtaining any kind of government license.

Those caught openly possessing these products would be issued a court summons, be subject to a maximum civil fine of $50 and may be required to complete a tobacco awareness program and/or an “appropriate amount” of community service up to 30 hours.

That kind of penalty may be just enough to get someone’s attention, enough to get their parents involved, enough to educate them about the health dangers, and hopefully enough to get kids to stop using these products before it leads to health issues or a lifetime habit.

This proposed law has a legitimate public health purpose and an appropriate degree of consequence for violating it. The bill needs a Senate sponsor and for lawmakers to pass it.

After all, what’s more important than our children’s health?