In a major blow to the e-cigarette industry, Michigan has become the first state in the nation to ban the sale of vaping products, effective immediately.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a first-term Democrat, announced the ban early Wednesday, a move she says will protect young people from the unknown health hazards of vaping – and address what the state Department of Health and Human Services has called a public health emergency.

"As governor, my number one priority is keeping our kids safe," Whitmer said in a statement. "And right now, companies selling vaping products are using candy flavors to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe. That ends today."

The Detroit Free Press reports that the ban will take effect immediately, but Michigan businesses have 30 days to comply with the order. The initial ban will last for six months before coming up for renewal.

Whitmer said e-cigarette companies are using fruity or sweet flavors to appeal to children, ostensibly to get them hooked on nicotine, with little knowledge of the long-term consequences. Michigan officials point to studies showing that vaping products contain a variety of chemicals and metal particles; however, the long-term health impact of vaping is largely unknown.

In late August, the state health department said it was looking into six lung infections reported in the state that investigators suspect are linked to use of vaping or e-cigarette devices. The investigation mirrors a probe by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking a rash of roughly 200 similar lung illnesses across 23 states. Two people, one in Illinois and another in Oregon, have died of similar illnesses.

Although no one knows how long-term e-cigarette use affects the lungs, proponents of the technology – including Juul, an industry leader – argue that vaping is almost certainly a safer alternative than tobacco cigarettes, and can help people quit smoking for good.