Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media flavored vapor products will be banned statewide beginning May 18; the delivery of online sales to private homes is also prohibited. Selling tobacco products in pharmacies will now be prohibited, effective July 1. “This year’s priority was getting the ban on flavored e-cigarettes because we know that those flavors attract young people to vaping and open the pathway to nicotine addiction without them even realizing it,” said Karen dePeyster from Tobacco-Free Action of Columbia and Greene Counties. Claire Parde, executive director of The Healthcare Consortium of Columbia and Greene Counties, said the policy changes will “significantly improve overall health” in both counties. Other tobacco policy changes enacted as part of the state’s 2021 budget include restricting the use of discounts for tobacco products, increasing oversight of vapor products throughout the distribution chain, prohibiting the display of tobacco products and their advertising near schools, and increasing retailer penalties for tobacco sales violations. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.