There’s no denying that the vaping industry has grown exponentially over the past decade for whatever reason, but it’s also true that we don’t fully know the health risks associated with the practice either.

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Whilst most people and governments have been OK with this and have been happy to embrace the growing movement, San Francisco have today taken the unprecedented step of banning all vape and e cigarette use in their city until the health risks are known more fully. Officials on Tuesday voted to ban stores from selling vapes and also make it illegal for online retailers to deliver to addresses in the city. They’ve also argued that vaping is acting as a ‘gateway drug’ to smoking for young people as many of them begin vaping before they start smoking actual cigarettes.

Mayor London Breed still have ten days to sign off the legislation but has indicated that she will do so. The law will then begin to be enforced from seven months after that date, although it’s thought that a bunch of retailers will mount legal challenges against the decision.

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One company that are certain to be involved in any legal challenge are Juul Labs, which have their head offices in San Francisco and have 70% of the vape market in the United States. Here’s what Juul spokesman Ted Kwong had to say about the introduction of these laws:

This ban will drive former adult smokers who successfully switched to vapor products back to deadly cigarettes.

It will also stop adult smokers switching and create a thriving black market.

We have already taken the most aggressive actions in the industry to keep our products out of the hands of those underage and are taking steps to do more.

Traditional tobacco products will remain untouched by this legislation, even though they kill 40,000 Californians every year.

I suppose the guy does have a point there that it seems pretty outrageous that vaping is being targeted whilst nothing is happening with tobacco, despite the fact that is scientifically proven to cause cancer and kill people. Surely if you’re gonna ban vaping then you should ban tobacco products as well? I guess big business over in America isn’t going to let that happen though is it?

It is important to get to the bottom of the health risks involved with vaping though so I have to respect that, just seems like this should have happened before the respective governments of the world even allowed the first vape to be sold anywhere within their borders. Guess that would be too much to ask though wouldn’t it, especially when there’s a lot of money to be made.

For more of the same, check out this study that says vaping is as bad for you as smoking real cigarettes. Surely not that bad, right?