The NSW Greens have revealed a plan to legalise nicotine vapes for people over the age of 18 to help reduce harms associated with the devices.
The strategy announced on Monday, would place limits on nicotine levels and prohibit the use of harmful chemicals as well as requiring health warnings on all vaping products.
Greens health spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said the plan to regulate vapes like other nicotine products would end the black market and get them out of the hands of children.
In NSW the sale of vapes is considered primarily an issue for health authorities, with the devices being sold widely under the counter by tobacconists and newsagents.
“Prohibition has failed once again. Banning nicotine vapes has only created a thriving black market that gives children easy access to nicotine products,” Ms Faehrmann said.
“People are going to access nicotine vapes regardless of the law. By regulating nicotine vaping we can ensure that people know what they’re vaping and aren’t exposed to dangerous chemicals or extremely high levels of nicotine.”
The strategy also proposes funding education programs targeted at teenagers to warn them of the dangers of vaping and placing requirements on producers to minimise waste and recycle used nicotine vapourisers.
“Illegal nicotine vapes are contributing massively to the waste crisis. As part of regulating nicotine vapes we will make producers responsible for the end-of-life of these products and require retailers to operate ‘vape-waste’ disposal bins,” Ms Faehrmann said.
Australians currently require a prescription to access nicotine vapes, despite them being legal and widely available in the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and European Union countries.
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