A bill that bans the use or sale of alcohol vaporizers has been signed into law by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. The devices turn whiskey or other liquors into a mist that's inhaled and quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.House Bill 202 is sponsored by Lexington Representative Susan Westrom, who believes the vaporizers are potentially deadly."It's a medical device that has not been regulated by the CDC, it's not been tested, so we truly don't know what the outcomes are. we actually wanted to do a controlled study in the state of Kentucky last year, but the department of justice say the liability issues were so powerful that they didn't think it was a wise idea once they thought very carefully about it," Westrom said.The device has already been banned in more than 20 other states.(Thanks to WEKU/Kentucky Public Radio)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.