RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has joined 39 of his colleagues across the country asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate electronic cigarettes in the same way it regulates tobacco products.
Cooper signed a letter Tuesday that says e-cigarettes are being marketed to children through cartoon-like advertising characters and by offering fruit and candy flavors, at the same time they are becoming more affordable and available.
The letter says e-cigarettes are portrayed as safe alternatives to traditional cigarettes, but are addictive and capable of delivering high doses of nicotine.
Cooper says children need to be protected until more research can be done into e-cigarette ingredients and nicotine.
Industry group Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association says it agrees that e-cigarettes should be regulated as a tobacco product.