Author: Bill Tarling

“Senate Bill 1 bans people under 21 from buying or possessing tobacco, e-cigarettes or e-liquids, which is already a federal law. The bill also makes selling these products to underage customers a Class C infraction. Sellers will have to pay $400 if they violate the law, an increase from the previous $200 maximum fine. They will have to pay even greater fines if they received previous citations in the past year. The law also eliminates fines that underage customers paid for possessing the products.’

BILL TARLING — The only monitoring and ‘enforcement’ they appear to be interested doing is for retail stores — however legitimate retail shops is not where most of the kids get their products illegally. Removing any onus on the kids for breaking the law to begin with just gives that a clear signal that there are no consequences or penalties for breaking the law.

ARTICLE LINK:

New driver safety and tobacco use laws go into effect July 1

“Starting next week, Chicago aldermen will debate the future of flavored tobacco products in the city. The Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association-Illinois Association of Convenience Stores successfully fought off a proposed ban on vapes, snuf and menthol last fall at the Illinois Statehouse. Now that the idea has reached City Council, the group is preparing to fight back. Illinois retailers and adult tobacco users are not the problem. In 2019, the revenue from the tobacco tax and the sales tax on tobacco was over $21 million. Mayor Lightfoot recently announced that the city is facing a $700 million budget shortfall.”

ARTICLE LINK:

IL Convenience Stores: Don’t Ban Flavored Tobacco in Chicago

“From Wednesday, July 1, the Netherlands’ ban on smoking in public spaces will also cover e-cigarettes. This means that if you are not allowed to smoke in a certain area, you can’t vape there either. From tomorrow, Dutch supermarkets will also no longer be allowed to display any tobacco products including cigarettes, rolling tobacco, cigars and e-cigarettes. This same ban will apply to other stores from January 1.”

ARTICLE LINK:

PUBLIC SMOKING BAN EXTENDED TO COVER E-CIGARETTES

“The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s authority to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, reports Reuters. A unanimous panel ruled Thursday that Congress’ decision to delegate vaping regulation to the FDA was constitutional under the non-delegation doctrine because Congress had articulated an “intelligible principle” in delegating authority to determine what qualified as a tobacco product to the FDA.”

VAPING NEWS:

Court Upholds FDA Authority Over Vaping

“The Georgia Senate Friday voted to impose a tax of up to 7% on vaping products and raise the age to buy both the nicotine delivery devices and tobacco to 21 from 18. The new tax could bring in as much as $19 million, according to the bill’s sponsor. Mullis echoed Harrell’s position that higher cigarette taxes won’t happen this year on the Senate floor Friday, but predicted lawmakers might raise the tobacco tax in 2021. “I’d say that’s coming, probably next session, but no, no additional tobacco tax, no additional taxes on anything except excise funds for vaping products,” he said.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Ga. Senators OK Tax On Vape Products, Raise Cigarette Purchase Age To 21

“A late-session push in the Senate would raise the state’s cigarette tax and stick a tax on vape products, which has so far eluded legislators. The Republican-led effort would raise the state’s current 37-cent per pack rate up to $1.35, which rivals what Florida charges its smokers. People would pay $1.25 per fluid milliliter or cubic centimeter for vapor products, which are not taxed today.”

BILL TARLING —  Claims that vapor products do not get taxed is misleading — they are taxed just like other consumer products. A $1.25/ml tax means you would be paying $75 just in tax for a 60ml bottle of e-liquid (plus the Retail Cost)

ARTICLE LINK:

State Senate Push For Cigarette Tax Hike Aims To Cushion Spending Cuts

“Health Minister Greg Hunt has delayed the ban on prescription nicotine-based e-cigarettes by six months to January 2021 after feeling the pressure from members of his own party. Mr Hunt said in a statement today that further time would be allowed to put in place a streamlined process for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Health Minister delays ban on prescription nicotine-based e-cigarettes

“The town of Bethlehem adopted stringent new tobacco and vaping sales regulations on Wednesday night that will require a town license to sell smoking products. The Town Board voted to approve a six-month moratorium on the approval of any new vape or smoke shops while town officials create the licensing system as well as set the cost of the permit. The board also passed a new local law that not only creates the licensing system but also bans vape shops 1,000 feet from a school. The licensing system would also include a “cap and winnow” system that would require two tobacco licenses to be retired before a new one will be issued. Board member Jim Foster, the sole ‘no’ vote on the two measures, said he would have supported the passage if he believed it would save even one child from picking up a smoking habit.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Bethlehem votes to pass new tobacco regulations

“The key House committee approved a seven percent tax on vaping products Wednesday but declined to take on a hike in tobacco taxes. Vaping products could be taxed at as much as 7% of the wholesale price, depending on the type of device. That would add about $6 million per year to the state’s general fund, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The rate is designed to be similar to the 37-cent tax for tobacco products, said Rep. Bonnie Rich, a Suwanee Republican.”

ARTICLE LINK:

State House Committee Pushes For New Tax On Vaping Products

“The Morrison government is facing an open backbench revolt over the decision to ban personal imports of the liquid nicotine used for vaping, with 28 Coalition MPs signing a letter condemning the restrictions announced last week. MPs from across the Liberal and National parties – including Queensland senator Matt Canavan, Liberal MP Tim Wilson and former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce – are among the backbenchers who have urged Health Minister Greg Hunt to reverse his decision.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Greg Hunt faces backbench revolt over vaping import ban