The tax proposed will be included in a package of legislation that aims to strengthen state regulation of the vaping industry. Hood is part of a group that includes the state Health Department and the non-profit Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. The state Youth Court judges are also involved in the effort to warn parents about the dangers associated with e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes can be used as an alternative to smoking. They are either battery-powered or electronic devices. E-cigarettes can be used to smoke or vape various juices. E-cigarettes may be used by adults to quit smoking, although this is still not proven. E-cigarettes can be dangerous for teens because of the addictive nicotine. Hood and other experts contend that e-cigarettes are just a way to deliver nicotine. “This is a highly addictive substance. As anyone who quit smoking cigarettes will tell you,” Mary Currier, state Health Officer, stated. E-cigarettes are not covered by Mississippi’s tobacco laws. They can be addictive and attractive to children with fruit and other child-friendly flavors. Hood stated that e-cigarettes are currently illegal to sell to anyone younger than 18. Hood would like to see the law raised to 21 years old by the Legislature. He stated that he would like to see e-cigarettes pre-packed or have limits on nicotine content. He said that vaping shops sometimes make their own mixes. Hood claims that the tax on e-cigarettes should equal the 68c per pack of regular cigarettes. The 7 percent sales tax is currently the only tax that e-cigarettes are subject to. According to Mississippi Tobacco Data (a division of Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center), more teenagers vape than traditional cigarettes. According to Mississippi State information, cigarette smoking among teens is at an all time low of 7.2 per cent. However, 11.5 percent use e-cigarettes or vape. Hood credited the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi for reducing teen smoking. His office collaborates with the Partnership to produce videos, brochures and other materials warning about the dangers associated with vaping. Hood stated that he wants parents to be aware of their children’s vaping habits. Hood explained, “It’s easy to conceal these devices and many teens don’t know how dangerous it can be to their health.” John Dowdy from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics stated that e-cigarettes have been altered to permit the consumption of illegal drugs. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared teen use of electronic cigarettes an epidemic.