That's what Governor Jay Inslee is proposing. From komonews.com:
[h=1]E-cig and vape tax could be coming to Washington[/h]
FIFE, Wash. -- Where there's no smoke, and no fire, can there still be trouble?
That's the worry for Kim Thompson, who runs a popular chain of e-cigarette and vaping chains in Pierce County. She says the industry "just keeps growing exponentially."
She also knows that taxes are likely coming.
Governor Jay Inslee's plan for a 95 percent tax on anything related to vaping will put the burgeoning smoke alternative in line with existing tobacco taxes.
It could bring in an estimated $18 million in new revenue for the state.
But Thompson says they are something different.
"There's no tobacco in our product. There's no combustion created in our product," she said.
King County and the state say the health effects of the products aren't fully known and that nicotine is still highly addictive, even in this form.
The industry doesn't buy the logic behind the tax, say e-cigs and cape aren't like soda pop.
"We're more like a cup of coffee," Thompson said.
Industry lobbyists say it isn't just about being treated differently, it's also the money involved in the
taxes. It's only sales tax now. They can't pass all of it onto consumers.
"I would be no longer able to afford to pay my employees to continue to help people to quit smoking," Thompson said.
You can send feedback to his office by phone at: 360-902-4111 or by email at: fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/
[h=1]E-cig and vape tax could be coming to Washington[/h]
FIFE, Wash. -- Where there's no smoke, and no fire, can there still be trouble?
That's the worry for Kim Thompson, who runs a popular chain of e-cigarette and vaping chains in Pierce County. She says the industry "just keeps growing exponentially."
She also knows that taxes are likely coming.
Governor Jay Inslee's plan for a 95 percent tax on anything related to vaping will put the burgeoning smoke alternative in line with existing tobacco taxes.
It could bring in an estimated $18 million in new revenue for the state.
But Thompson says they are something different.
"There's no tobacco in our product. There's no combustion created in our product," she said.
King County and the state say the health effects of the products aren't fully known and that nicotine is still highly addictive, even in this form.
The industry doesn't buy the logic behind the tax, say e-cigs and cape aren't like soda pop.
"We're more like a cup of coffee," Thompson said.
Industry lobbyists say it isn't just about being treated differently, it's also the money involved in the
taxes. It's only sales tax now. They can't pass all of it onto consumers.
"I would be no longer able to afford to pay my employees to continue to help people to quit smoking," Thompson said.
You can send feedback to his office by phone at: 360-902-4111 or by email at: fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/
SMOKING feal the love
