Unlike in Massachusetts, which has 61 cases of possible lung illness from vaping, the Ocean State has no reported cases — instead, the order is aimed at the growing popularity of vaping among minors.

PROVIDENCE — Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday ordered state health officials to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, adding Rhode Island to the list of states to crack down on vaping in the wake of reported illnesses.

By making it illegal for stores to sell electronic nicotine flavors such as "strawberry milk" and "mango bliss," Raimondo wants to reverse the growing popularity of vaping among children.

When the ban takes effect — not expected until next week at the earliest — stores will be able to sell only more basic flavors such as "plain" or tobacco flavored. (Menthol is among the flavors still being discussed.)

"As governor I hear from parents and teachers and coaches that the use of flavored e-cigarettes among teenagers and middle school students is alarming and rising and scary," Raimondo, a Democrat, told reporters. "As a mother, I see it. I see it in my children's friends and what they see in school."

The Rhode Island order came a day after Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker banned the sale of all vaping-related products in the Bay State and declared vaping a public-health emergency. Massachusetts is investigating 61 possible illnesses related to vaping or electronic cigarettes.

Explaining why she didn't seek an across-the-board ban like Massachusetts, Raimondo said she doesn't want to drive vapers who have quit smoking back to regular cigarettes. She also noted that Massachusetts' situation is different because the commonwealth has legalized recreational marijuana use, which can involve vaping.

Raimondo's order tasks the Department of Health with writing emergency regulations on flavored e-cigarettes, which could last up to 180 days and presumably lead to permanent rules. It also forms a "vaping advisory group" of experts and directs the state police to investigate non-medical sales of marijuana vape products.

"We may decide we have to do more, but based on the facts I have now and consulting with physicians and my public-health team, this is the right step to protect kids," Raimondo said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday discussed a "regional approach" to regulating vaping, according to the Hartford Courant.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has urged states to take action to regulate vaping and said 530 lung illnesses and 9 deaths have been reported nationwide. Rhode Island Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott on Wednesday said no cases of vaping-related illnesses have been confirmed here so far, and acknowledged "there are still questions" about what substances or specific mechanisms are causing the illnesses.

Both House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said they support Raimondo's executive order. Mattiello said in an email the House will be "looking closely at the issue" next year. Last week North Kingstown Democratic Rep. Julie Casimiro proposed legislation permanently banning non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes.

E-cigarette companies and stores that sell vaping products blame the alarming illnesses on illegal cannabis-based products. Store owners, employees and former GOP congressional candidate Sal Caiozzo rallied at the State House on Wednesday morning to oppose vaping restrictions.

They argued that cracking down on e-cigarettes will endanger people trying to quit smoking and say adults commonly use the flavored vapes being targeted.

Jon Shaer, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, which represents 150 stores in Rhode Island, wrote in an email that the group "shares" Raimondo's desire to curb nicotine use by people younger than 18.

"We hope the governor’s regulations decisively close off the online marketplace and that she considers more dedicated enforcement action around youth 'use' in addition to a sales ban on flavors," Shaer said in an email.

One Raimondo proposal that retailers and vaping companies have been able to fight off is higher taxes on e-cigarettes.

Last year Raimondo proposed an 80% excise tax on wholesale vaping products, and this year she proposed a 40% tax. Both were eliminated from the budget passed by the General Assembly.

Wednesday's executive order calls for new recommendations on vaping taxes and licensing requirements for distributors and vaping bars, including a potential minimum distance from schools.