Q&A: Young advocates pushing for new NC vape store regulations
High school and college students advocate for stricter vape store regulations in North Carolina.Summary
A bipartisan group of North Carolina legislators, led by Rep. Donnie Loftis, has sponsored House Bill 430, known as Solly's Law, to regulate retailers selling tobacco and vape products and ban sales to anyone under 21. The legislation aims to address the state's rising vaping rates among teenagers, which student advocates say are leading to addiction and violent incidents. The bill would establish a permitting system for retailers, a measure supported by the state's Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. Advocates argue that the current lack of regulation makes it difficult to investigate illegal sales and that products often contain undisclosed substances like THC or fentanyl. The students emphasize that raising the legal age to 21 is crucial because young people are more susceptible to addiction and their brains are still developing.
(Source：WUNC News)
