Washington State (Urgent) Call to Action! Take Action now to Oppose HB 2211 an unjustifiable 60% tax on vapor products

[JustJulie]

HB 2211 would enact an unjustifiable extra tax of 60% of sales price on vapor products -- liquids and devices. (Imagine paying $32.00 for your next 30ml bottle of e-liquid or $160.00 for your next $100 mod.)

This bill has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Finance Committee

Friday, April 3rd
8:00 AM
House Hearing Room - A (HHR-A).​

Please make plans to attend this hearing.*

Please take action now by sending a fully editable email to members of the committee and your district representative urging them to oppose this bill

• Oppose HB 2211 - Send an Email

*Even if you are not planning to testify, your attendance is important as it demonstrates the many people affected by and engaged in this issue. (As a sign of respect, we ask that you refrain from vaping in the building.)

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Link to Call to Action: CASAA: Washington State (Urgent) Call to Action! Take Action now to Oppose HB 2211 an unjustifiable 60% tax on vapor products

 

[2buildawall]

Done.

From reading the bill it is my understanding that they dropped the internet sells and purchase restriction.

The question I posed to my rep who is very much against this bill was "where did the focus on preventing minor use go on this issue?"

It is all about the tax dollars and balancing the budget now.

What a joke but then again it is Washington state and nothing surprises me anymore. Honestly I thought the original bill would pass.

I believe it would have passed had it not been for the constituents that showed up and were heard. I was very impressed with how the vaping community conducted themselves and articulated their points.

 

[DrMA]

An aide to my state Rep informed me HB 2211 has been deemed "necessary to implement the budget" or NTIB for short. This is very bad! We must show up for the hearing on Friday in large numbers to fight this atrocity.

 

[DrMA]

I estimate more than 300 vapers showed up today to express opposition against the HB 2211 atrocity. Only a handful did get to testify, but their testimonies were powerful and eloquent.

Multiple clowns posing as Public Health also testified in favor using typical lies and baseless alarmism about children

 

[Painter_]

I viewed the hearing they had on Friday, one thing that I heard one of the speakers say that this tax is hardware also. What part of a tube mod contains tobacco and or nicotine? Will there be a uprising of Flashlight shops in WA that also sell vape products? The money grab is in Washington. At least in Ohio where I live they are only looking to tax the juices (not that I agree with that.).

 

[DrMA]

Substitute Bill HB 1645 scheduled for hearing 4/7 at 9AM with no public announcement
HB 1645 - 2015-16

Here's a selection of the features of this bill:

Imposes onerous licensing, shipping, and labeling requirements (+ childproof packaging)
Hands oversight of vaping business to the failed WA liquor control board, including the ability to limit flavors and contents
Sec 15: Prohibits improvements in vaping tech that would make ecigs more effective for cessation, such as adding chemicals that would improve efficiency of nicotine delivery
Sec 25 vendor fees: Distributor: $650 + $115 for each add'l location; Retailer: $93 per location

HOWEVER
Sec 22 preempts local authorities from imposing additional restrictions on sale and use of ecigs, which means cities and towns in WA will not be permitted to restrict vaping (such as indoor use bans).

Interesting dilemma. Should we support or oppose this bill? Sure, WA vendors would be inconvenienced, but the preemption of local use restrictions could be valuable.

 

[DEA7H INC]

Substitute Bill HB 1645 scheduled for hearing 4/7 at 9AM with no public announcement
HB 1645 - 2015-16

Here's a selection of the features of this bill:

Imposes onerous licensing, shipping, and labeling requirements (+ childproof packaging)
Hands oversight of vaping business to the failed WA liquor control board, including the ability to limit flavors and contents
Sec 15: Prohibits improvements in vaping tech that would make ecigs more effective for cessation, such as adding chemicals that would improve efficiency of nicotine delivery
Sec 25 vendor fees: Distributor: $650 + $115 for each add'l location; Retailer: $93 per location

HOWEVER
Sec 22 preempts local authorities from imposing additional restrictions on sale and use of ecigs, which means cities and towns in WA will not be permitted to restrict vaping (such as indoor use bans).

Interesting dilemma. Should we support or oppose this bill? Sure, WA vendors would be inconvenienced, but the preemption of local use restrictions could be valuable.

Its a tough call. Theres some good in this bill and bad. I don't like the idea of anything that will potentially limit distribution and flavors but we have to face the reality that some form of state legislation at some point is inevitable almost everywhere. As a former Washington resident I feel for you guys. We have our own problems here in Oregon as well. Some of my favorite vendors are in WA state and I don't want to see them get burned. Don't quit fighting and be cautious.

A lot of these bills can pave the way for more serious and harmful restrictions if implemented.

 

[squee]

such as adding chemicals that would improve efficiency of nicotine delivery

That one I totally agree with the provision and that is the kind of regulation that I'm in favor of. No one needs added chemicals to boost nicotine - that's what the tobacco companies did, to make nicotine vastly more addictive than it is naturally.

And vaping tech has already improved nic efficiency without chemicals via hardware. Blu < Evod < Nautilus < Atlantis plus the underlying power from Blu < ego < VV twist < istick , etc...

 

[caramel]

Interesting dilemma. Should we support or oppose this bill?

It's a "Think Of The Children" bill i.e. with emotional not scientific arguments. I would oppose.

 

[Woofer]

Substitute Bill HB 1645 scheduled for hearing 4/7 at 9AM with no public announcement
HB 1645 - 2015-16

Here's a selection of the features of this bill:

Imposes onerous licensing, shipping, and labeling requirements (+ childproof packaging)
Hands oversight of vaping business to the failed WA liquor control board, including the ability to limit flavors and contents
Sec 15: Prohibits improvements in vaping tech that would make ecigs more effective for cessation, such as adding chemicals that would improve efficiency of nicotine delivery
Sec 25 vendor fees: Distributor: $650 + $115 for each add'l location; Retailer: $93 per location

HOWEVER
Sec 22 preempts local authorities from imposing additional restrictions on sale and use of ecigs, which means cities and towns in WA will not be permitted to restrict vaping (such as indoor use bans).

Interesting dilemma. Should we support or oppose this bill? Sure, WA vendors would be inconvenienced, but the preemption of local use restrictions could be valuable.

My take on this is that it is bad. One swoop from above and all locals are ruled?

 

[DrMA]

That one I totally agree with the provision and that is the kind of regulation that I'm in favor of. No one needs added chemicals to boost nicotine - that's what the tobacco companies did, to make nicotine vastly more addictive than it is naturally.

And vaping tech has already improved nic efficiency without chemicals via hardware. Blu < Evod < Nautilus < Atlantis plus the underlying power from Blu < ego < VV twist < istick , etc...

Why does it matter if you improve nicotine delivery via hardware or via modifying e-liquid chemistry? The reason MODs work better than cigalikes is because they're better and faster at delivering nicotine.

 

[DEA7H INC]

Proposed second substitute bill, Looks like it bans online sales, sampling and removes the preempting portion.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CMD/Handler....umentcontent&documentId=wycel0TfJz4&att=false

 

[Astron]

Ok I am so confused. I just checked the Pink Lung Brigade's site and just an hour ago it was posted that HB1645 (the draconian 95% tax, all banned Internet sales, etc.) passed to the House. I thought that bill had been relatively stripped and that HB2211 had been introduced in lieu. So now HB1645 is back? Or it actually never went away?

How can there be two bills introduced to tax e-cigs at the same time? Is that even so?

 

[caramel]

What's this Pink Lung Brigade thing? Same as the Pink Smooth Brain one?

 

[klynnn]

These states legalize an alternative substance that many people are in jail for, then they leave cigarettes on the market, then they try to tax something that might help you get off their tax train and better your health. Yes but it's for the children. I call BS with a big B.

 

[2buildawall]

Lived my whole life in Washington state. HB1645 back on the table. I don't know if it is but what I do know is that nothing would surprise me anymore.

 

[bittermelon]

Geez, I sent the emails. I hope I'm not too late. Haven't been checking the board daily.

 

[DrMA]

HB 1645-S2 adopted by House Finance Committee going to House floor for full vote

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CMD/Handler....umentcontent&documentId=wycel0TfJz4&att=false

This bill is an atrocity:

• prohibits online sales
• prohibits in-store tasting
• sets up onerous fees on vendors and distributors
• hands regulatory authority to the failed WA liquor control board and sanctimonious parasites in the Dept of Health

http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1645&year=2015

 

[snork]

HB 1645-S2 adopted by House Finance Committee going to House floor for full vote

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CMD/Handler....umentcontent&documentId=wycel0TfJz4&att=false

This bill is an atrocity:

• prohibits online sales
• prohibits in-store tasting
• sets up onerous fees on vendors and distributors
• hands regulatory authority to the failed WA liquor control board and sanctimonious parasites in the Dept of Health

HB 1645 - 2015-16

It *is* an atrocity. Despicable!
DrMA, you must be livid.

 

[caramel]

This bill is an atrocity:

"Told you so" even without fully reading it. It started with "The Children". The rest was predictable.....