Oklahoma has a teen vaping problem. It’s time to hold the adults who sell them products accountable.

Oklahoma has a teen vaping problem. More than 20 percent of Oklahoma high school students report using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, compared to 10 percent of teens nationally. It's not acceptable. Oklahoma's children deserve better than a life of nicotine addiction and the health consequences that come with it.

Last year, the Legislature passed a measure aimed at holding young people accountable when they are caught purchasing, using or possessing tobacco or vaping products. The law provides for a training course and then fines if the course is not completed.

It’s time to hold adults accountable too. Current law fines the seller behind the counter for selling to minors, but imposes no fine on store owners. This should change. Store owners are responsible for training their employees and what happens in their stores.

This year, I authored House Bill 3331 with Senator Jo Anna Dossett. The bill, currently being considered by Parliament, would add fines to store owners on top of the current fines imposed on clerks. Fines would start at $250 for the first offense and rise to $1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses. Repeat offenders could also lose their license to sell tobacco products.

More: Oklahoma is ranked third state for most e-cigarette users and has most residents who vape daily

Vape aerosols contain addictive nicotine and other substances that can lead to irreversible disease and lung damage. The toxic aerosol contains carcinogens, as well as heavy metals like lead and nickel. Exposure to nicotine before the age of 25 can damage the developing brain, affecting memory, attention and learning.

Nearly 9 in 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily say they started before age 18. Preventing young people from starting to smoke is therefore essential in tobacco prevention efforts. Tasty vapes with colorful packaging and high nicotine concentrations are Big Tobacco's way of attracting the next generation of users.

To help store owners, the Oklahoma State Department of Health provides free resources to tobacco retailers and employee training through its Validate program, all available at ValidateOK.com.

With free training in place, no store or employee has any excuse to sell tobacco or vapes to minors. Yet children receive these products from adults, and adults should be held responsible.

HB 3331 is a step in the right direction. This is a measure that will protect Oklahoma's youth from Big Tobacco's predatory marketing and put our state on a path to better health in the years to come.

Representative Cynthia Roe is a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 42nd District.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma store owners could be fined for selling vaping products to teens.