State Representative Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) responded to reports of serious illnesses and deaths linked to vaping and other flavored tobacco use by pushing for a statewide ban of flavored tobacco products and filing a bill, HB 3887, on Sept. 13, 2019.
Subsequently, a report on Sept. 27, 2019, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention validated the importance of the legislation he filed that seeks to ban flavored nicotine products, including those containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis.
State Representative Wehrli’s HB 3887
Wehrli’s HB 3887 would create the Flavored Tobacco Ban Act, and sets penalties for individuals and manufacturers who would sell the products illegally. The ban would include flavored nicotine or nicotine/THC products commonly used in vaping pens.
“The CDC’s report issued today should alarm every Illinoisan, especially parents. Whereas e-cigarettes and vaping were sold to the public as a safe alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, we are learning that these materials are causing a significant threat to public health,” said Wehrli. “Because these new materials are flavored to taste like bubble gum, cotton candy, chocolate and other enticing flavors, kids are being targeted, and in some cases the results have been deadly.”
According to Wehrli, the CDC report was based on interviews with 86 individuals from Illinois and Wisconsin who contracted lung illnesses after using e-cigarette or vaping products. The cases of lung injury came from individuals who were previously healthy prior to the use of e-cigarettes or vaping materials.
The report states, “Use of THC-containing e-cigarette products, the majority of which were prefilled cartridges obtained from informal sources, was reported by 87% of patients during the three months preceding illness.” The report went on to say the cause of the outbreak is unknown but might be related to prefilled THC cartridges. The CDC recommended that persons consider refraining from using e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC.
“Other flavored tobacco ban bills have been filed this year, but my HB 3887 is the only bill that includes flavored nicotine products that also include THC,” said Wehrli. “As a General Assembly, when we address this growing health crisis, we need to make sure we are taking steps that address the real problem. When I hear that 87% of the patients who fell ill used products containing THC, that suggests a correlation between THC-infused e-cigarettes or vape pens and significant lung disease.”
Brief Video of Wehrli Q&A / Illinois Attorney General & Director of Public Health
Wehrli attended a recent public hearing on the vaping crisis, and questioned the Illinois Attorney General and Director of Public Health about Illinois statistics involving lung illnesses by those who have used vaping materials. You can listen to his line of questioning here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-_0i5n7t2g&feature=youtu.be>
State Rep. Wehrli also creates awareness about new opioid disposal system
Between 2015 and 2018, opioid deaths in DuPage County almost doubled, from 51 reported deaths in 2015 to 98 deaths in 2018. In an effort to reverse this alarming trend, Wehrli is partnering with DuPage Sheriff James Mendrick and several other state representatives in DuPage County to fight the epidemic through distribution of a new, easy-to-use drug disposal system.
The disposable bags deactivate the harmful ingredients in opioid pills or patches. According to Mendrick, individuals with leftover opioids simply have to put them into the bag, add water, and shake. A drug deactivation system then breaks down the drugs to a point where they can safely be thrown in the trash. (Never through drugs down the toilet.) Mendrick said any leftover prescription of up to 45 pills or six fentanyl patches can be destroyed in the pouches. The disposal bags were made available to the sheriff’s office free of charge through a grant obtained by the Illinois Sheriffs Association.
“In his short time as Sheriff of DuPage County, Sheriff James Mendrick has shown excellent leadership in fighting the scourge of opioid abuse in our county,” said Wehrli. “I’m honored to partner with him on this program that will save lives by reducing opportunities for opioids to fall into the wrong hands.”
The free opioid deactivation bags are available the Representatives’ district offices. Representative Grant Wehrli’s District Office is located at 55 S. Main Street, Suite 383.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (Western Springs) and State Reps Deanne Mazzochi (Elmhurst) and Amy Grant (Wheaton) also have free opioid deactivation bags available.
Reports submitted by Senior Communications Analyst Cheryl Meyer for State Representative Grant Wehrli.
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