Serving on the Lakeway City Council and as deputy executive director of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas is one of the greatest privileges of my life. Through our efforts, the city has continued to make major progress in cleaning up crime and enhancing safety in communities across Lakeway and beyond. Still, much work remains to be done.
This is especially evident in the widespread availability of vaping products, THC-infused gummies, and other inhalants and illicit drugs across Texas. In February alone, the Texas Department of Public Safety seized over 30 pounds of THC and marijuana and nearly 6,000 vape cartridges. Yet, countless more remain on the streets, easily accessible to everyone, including minors.
A major source of these dangerous inhalants and drugs are vape stores and smoke shops. Their strategy is to exploit young children by marketing eye-catching vapes and THC gummies disguised as candy, all in effort to make a buck. To make matters worse, many of these stores often disregard proper age verification checks, granting kids the ability to purchase vapes, THC and more. “Good Morning America” reported that less than 50% of unlicensed cannabis and vape shops are checking for age when selling THC. These actions endanger the health of minors and contribute to the notion that using such products is trendy and fashionable.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has asserted how potent and dangerous these inhalants and drugs are. Some disposable vapes hold nicotine amounts comparable to hundreds of cigarettes, while the Miami Herald reports vape stores are selling THC tainted with toxic pesticides. Early exposure to such products can lead to a lifetime of addiction for kids. This led the FDA to go so far as to ban flavored vapes and to issue warnings against companies selling products containing Delta-8 THC in an effort to curb this growing problem.
Even with state and federal regulators laying out all of the health consequences that come with inhalants and drugs, it hasn’t stopped vape stores from continuing to sell to minors. Their decision to freely allow access to these hazardous products has led Texas to record nearly 250 e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injuries (EVALI), the most in the country. This includes several hospital emergency visits from elementary, middle and high school students. Still, none of this has stopped these local smoke shops from putting these products on their shelves for minors to buy.
Major retailers recognize that children can get addicted to flavored vapes and do not sell any THC products in their stores. This raises serious questions about why local vape stores and smoke shops of all places are allowed to sell these harmful products to our children.
Texas has begun making progress. Just last month, the Texas Senate passed a bill to ban all forms of THC in the state. However, more must be done to hold vape stores and smoke shops accountable for selling illicit products. This includes enforcing stricter penalties such as higher fines, license revocations and prosecution for repeat violations. We also must provide law enforcement with the necessary resources to increase inspections of stores that illegally sell to minors. Finally, expanded public awareness campaigns can help inform families and communities about the dangers these stores pose to the health of children.
We must take immediate action to protect our children from dangerous inhalants and drugs that threaten their health. The Legislature must rise to the occasion and put an end to these stores selling illicit products to young people.
Lakeway City Council Member Jennifer Szimanski has a 17-year law enforcement background.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: State must act to stop smoke shops from targeting kids | Opinion
Reporting by Lakeway City Council Member Jennifer Szimanski / Austin American-Statesman
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