A new epidemic has swept the nation. Scented clouds have taken over street corners, restaurants, and even school bathrooms. What are these mystical puffs? Vape.  

Vaping is flavored water vapor inhaled through a vape pen or vaping machine. Created as an alternative to cigarettes, vape often contains nicotine, and even cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils, which are synthetically derived from marijuana plants. For some users, these synthetic compounds can cause dangerous reactions that may cause fainting, loss of vision, inability to speak, or even seizures.  

Many users of vape are not the same demographic as those who would smoke cigarettes or even use smokeless tobacco products. Vape products are often marketed specifically towards teens, using inventive flavors to draw interest. A 2016 report by the U.S. Surgeon General cited a 900% increase in teens using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). 

In schools across the nation, vaping has become a huge issue. As with any illegal drugs or paraphernalia, students in schools across the nation have been disciplined for the use and possession of vape products. In Cherokee County, new additions to the discipline code have been added to help combat this issue.  

According to the Cherokee County Discipline Code, any student who possesses tobacco or vape products can be given one to nine days of suspension or assignment to an alternative school. Students possessing any cannabis-like substances will immediately be suspended for nine days, and a tribunal will be held with a recommendation for expulsion, or long-term reassignment to an alternative school. 

Some students at Etowah agree with the new, harsher code. 

“I feel like punishments are fair for people who vape at school. The admin[istration] can’t catch everyone vaping at school, so the punishments are good at discouraging people from doing it at school,” Lilly Daniels, sophomore, said. 

Other members of the Etowah community, however, feel that the changes are too aggressive. 

“I think the punishments for getting caught with vape on school grounds is a little over edge,” Josh Garrett, junior, said. 

Although the additions to the discipline code have been put in place mainly because of state laws about vaping under the age of 18, many proponents of the new guidelines, including principal Robert Horn, cite safety concerns. 

“It’s really scary, guys. A lot of adults don’t know much about vaping… Back when I was younger, you caught a kid with cigarettes, marijuana, pills. Nowadays, kids aren’t even sure what they’ve bought or what they have,” Horn said. 

Remember: It is not cool to Juul in school. Also, you will get in a lot of trouble.