The province is looking into potentially regulating vaping.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro held a press conference on Wednesday where he announced a review of Alberta’s Tobacco Law will take place starting in November.
Multiple reports have surfaced of people getting sick from vaping in the United States and now in Canada.
Speaking to reporters, Shandro says Albertans need to know the risk.
“We want to let people know the risks of vaping and we want to regulate it based on the evidence, so we’re going to take a close look at vaping as part as an overall review of our smoking legislation.”
According to the province, nearly 25 per cent of teens in high school have tried vaping in the last month.
Shandro notes this review should help find ways to protect today’s youth.
“I respect the rights of adults to choose themselves, including choices that are unhealthy, but I don’t want my kids or anyone else’s kids to be pressured to start smoking or to start vaping.”
Vaping is primarily used by adults to help them quit smoking.
“For adults, there’s some evidence that it can help current smokers reduce the harms of their health – we need to balance the concerns about health, especially for young people, with the rights of adults to make choices as consumers.”
So far, no cases have been linked to vaping in Alberta.
