Hartford — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, said Monday that they hope bills they have each introduced to ban electronic-cigarette companies from advertising their products to children will receive bipartisan support.

“Kids aren’t using e-cigarettes to stop smoking like some adults,” Esty said. “Our children are getting hooked on nicotine, a highly addictive drug, which the surgeon general has warned has lasting, adverse consequences for adolescent brain development.”

Minors in Connecticut can legally purchase e-cigarettes, although Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed banning those sales this year.

Supporters of the bill said the brightly colored e-cigarettes that come in flavors such as gummy bear and cotton candy should not be advertised to children because the product is addictive and could cause a lifetime of disease.
http://www.theday.com/article/20140407/NWS12/140409728/1017