Embracing Dialogue

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with vapor industry representatives, medical associations, advocacy groups and state officials on Friday to discuss the ongoing vaping crisis, reports USA Today.

The meeting will give the administration a chance to hear from “a large group, representing all sides as we continue to develop responsible guidelines that protect the public health and the American people,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere.

The gathering comes more than two months after Trump said he would ban flavored vapor products other than menthol and tobacco.

Health advocates have criticized Trump for bowing to political pressure. Industry groups and conservative activists have warned the president that banning flavored e-cigarettes might trigger a political backlash, potentially costing him the 2020 election.

Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, described Trump’s lack of action as “at least a temporary victory.”

As of Nov. 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2,172 vaping-related injuries and 42 deaths. The CDC has linked the injuries to vitamin E acetate, used as a thickening agent or to dilute THC oil in vape cartridges.