Sen. Schumer Says FDA Shouldn't Delay Regulation On E-Cigs

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is calling on the federal government to reverse a recent decision to delay the regulation of e-cigarettes.

The New York Democrat said Sunday that the Food and Drug Administration should reconsider its decision announced earlier this year to put regulating electronic cigarettes on hold.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb the delay would give the agency time to determine how e-cigarettes fit into its overall strategy for tobacco regulation.

But Schumer says e-cigarettes must be regulated because growing numbers of teens are using them.

"I'm calling on the FDA to move swiftly forward with their oversight regulations," Schumer said.

According to the surgeon general, in 2015 more than 3 million middle and high school students said they had used e-cigarettes in the past month.

The Senate Minority Leader says the nicotine gadget called Juul has become especially popular among teenagers because it's easy to hide. Westchester high school senior Jack Waxman has witnessed it first hand.

"Kids find it easier to charge in their computers while they'e in their classes and then they retreat to the bathrooms to use it," he told WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron.

The device looks like a flash drive, allowing it to go undetected.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)