Advocates say aggressive marketing toward youth highlights need for a flavored tobacco ban in Maine [Video]

Matteo Hardy has seen widespread vaping at Cony High School, and also the new, clever ways in which tobacco companies are luring teens into trying the products.

There’s a hand-held video game that doubles as a vaping device, and a vaping pen decorated with artwork in the same style as the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series. There’s even children’s clothing designed to conceal vaping devices from teachers and staff.

“It’s just crazy what we see now,” said Hardy, 16, a junior at Cony High School in Augusta and an advocate for banning flavored tobacco. “There’s so many different ways kids can get tobacco into their bodies that no one knows about. We know the tobacco companies target to youth. What we’ve seen is an increase in targeting, going after younger and younger kids.”

Some Maine lawmakers and an advocacy group that Hardy belongs to – Flavors Hook Kids Maine – have …