SAWYER COUNTY -- Due to the adverse health effects related to use of electronic smoking devices and vaping-related products, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board took action Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, to protect the health of its tribal membership, including the youth, voting unanimously to ban the sale of vaping products in all tribal retail outlets and the use of said products on all tribal property, which includes government buildings, educational facilities and commercial enterprises.
Tribal Chairman Louis Taylor said the health of all Lac Courte Oreilles members must be safeguarded from potentially harmful and unsafe products and by keeping these products off the store shelves at LCO tribal retail outlets and preventing their use on tribal property, the tribe is taking the necessary and important steps to keep our children and our community safe and to prevent exposing our people to these dangerous chemicals in the future.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is a current outbreak of illness suspected to be related to vaping which has sickened 1,080 people with lung illnesses and at least 18 have died in 15 states.
“The increasing number of lung injury cases we see associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, is deeply concerning. Unfortunately, this may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the escalating health threat this outbreak poses to the American public, particularly youth and young adults. CDC will continue to work with FDA and state health partners to investigate the cause, or causes, of this outbreak and to bring an end to these lung injuries.” – Dr. Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All seven members of the Tribal Governing Board agreed this is a health crisis due to the outbreak over recent months and urgent action was required. The LCO Legal Department will be drafting an ordinance outlining enforcement action of the ban on vaping products.
Per LCO Tribal Governing Board
Last Update: Oct 11, 2019 10:17 am CDT
