Arizona Call to Action: HB 2648

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Arizona Call to Action: HB 2648


Arizona Call to Action: HB 2648 threatens access to and awareness of low-risk, smoke-free vapor products.

HGE Committee Hearing THURSDAY 02.19.15 - 10:00 AM

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A dangerously vague and ambiguous bill has been introduced in the Arizona State House of Representatives. Enactment of HB 2648 would give state enforcement agencies the power to harass and prosecute retailers merely for selling products in flavors other than tobacco and menthol. Please act now to stop it!

Specifically, HB 2648 would:

• Prohibit any marketing or advertising or vapor products “in a manner that specifically appeals to children”
• Prohibit the manufacture or sale of a vapor product with a label or packaging that “attempts to confuse the vapor product with a toy or candy.”
• Require state-specific labeling language about the dangers of vapor product usage for youth

The House Government and Education Committee will hold a special meeting Thursday, February 19th at 10:00AM in Room HHR 1 at the State House in Phoenix (1700 W Washington St). Committee members need to hear about the dramatic unintended consequences of this bill -- including retailers choosing not to sell flavors for fear of being cited for violating this law -- from vapers, business owners, and other harm reduction advocates!





Send a Message

 

[aikanae1]

Anyone??????

 

[samurai7314]

I already sent my stuff in. I passed this around when I got the email too. Hopefully it went well for us.

 

[aikanae1]

I passed it on to some non-ECF, non-CASAA vapers I know. Hopefully they got it in time. I'm wondering how it passed 2 committees without anyone noticing? There was also another bill that added a tax and I heard a RUMOUR that was squashed in committee, but couldn't confirm anything.

An update would be nice.

You know that once these things start, they keep trying again and again.

 

[samurai7314]

Yeah I posted that in hear when I saw it a little while ago but no response. I hope it got squashed. It wasn't a very big tax but still had me a little nervous

 

[metamorpheus]

It is not dead until April, but NAVB has made some serious progress. The last battle was on 2/19 and the bill was amended and assigned to a special committee at the end of the day. The bill was killed before it hit the floor to be heard.

My girlfriend and I are both vapers, own small businesses, and are political activists. I am gearing up for the launch of my juice while my girlfriend is opening her second shop. She is a NAVB board member and I am a guest, but I show my gratitude by spreading the good word on Facebook and the forums.

you can find more info about the latest on the bill here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/656708-more-progress-phoenix.html

 

[inspects]

I did my best too.....

 

[stevegmu]

Did anyone else actually click the link for the bill? is this a joke?

HOUSE BILL 2648

AMENDING TITLE 36, CHAPTER 25, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING ARTICLE 2; AMENDING TITLE 36, CHAPTER 29, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 36-2907.13; RELATING TO ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC DEVICES

 

[SHOCK COLLAR]

theyre worried about literally getting a foot broke off in thier asses

 

[stevegmu]

So people blindly oppose bills without even looking at the proposed legislation?

 

[aikanae1]

No. That's the wrong bill. I'm not sure how or why that got linked but we did read it.

HB2648 - 521R - I Ver
REFERENCE TITLE: vapor products; marketing; labeling; minors
HB 2648

Section 1. Section 13-3622, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
13-3622. Tobacco products, vapor products or tobacco or shisha instruments or paraphernalia; furnishing to minor; minor accepting, receiving or illegally obtaining; marketing, advertising, manufacturing or selling vapor products; classification; definitions:

 

[stevegmu]

I really don't see a problem with that bill. My e-liquid doesn't have pictures on the bottles which would appeal to children and mine have warning labels on them to keep away from pets and children... Some manufacturers may need to re-tool their labels, but this is an adult business, afterall...

 

[aikanae1]

I really don't see a problem with that bill. My e-liquid doesn't have pictures on the bottles which would appeal to children and mine have warning labels on them to keep away from pets and children... Some manufacturers may need to re-tool their labels, but this is an adult business, afterall...

That's the point. This is an adult business and AZ has a law already that makes it illegal to sell to minors. It's redundant.

Your using a narrow interpretation and there's a good chance the legislation would adopt a broad interpretation and juices that sound like cereal or candy would fall under. Simple names like "strawberries and cream" or "thug juice" would be illegal. It would't be a few juice companies affected, it would be most of them. There's 7,000 + juice flavors on the market.

 

[stevegmu]

That's the point. This is an adult business and AZ has a law already that makes it illegal to sell to minors. It's redundant.

Your using a narrow interpretation and there's a good chance the legislation would adopt a broad interpretation and juices that sound like cereal or candy would fall under. Simple names like "strawberries and cream" or "thug juice" would be illegal. It would't be a few juice companies affected, it would be most of them. There's 7,000 + juice flavors on the market.

Final bills are very specific, so this was proposed as a feeler or isn't finished yet. Those vendors need to grow up and realize they are in an adult business, rather than name juices to appeal to the gamer generation. The bill doesn't ban flavors...

 

[aikanae1]

I like my gummy bears and pluid. They keep me from smoking. I wouldn't want to keep anyone away from flavors that did the same even if it was labeled vomit.

Jelly Belly did a study on adult v. kid flavors and based on their study, gummy bear is a complex adult flavor. Orange and grape are more likely to appeal to kids. So even that assumption is a myth.

It's already illegal to sell to kids. Should alcohol and condoms loose their flavors too?

 

[stevegmu]

I like my gummy bears and pluid. They keep me from smoking. I wouldn't want to keep anyone away from flavors that did the same even if it was labeled vomit.

Those flavors can still exist, but the vendors need to get smart about how they name and market them. I have a feeling if the FDA regulations ever come to pass, a lot of vendors will be left with un sellable stock, until they do some re labeling and that is their fault...

 

[aikanae1]

FDA is 100% about market control. There is nothing about public health and safety.

There isn't enough that any vendor can do to satisfy them other than cease to exist. Tobacco and drug companies are not interested in compromise or sharing the market or healthy competition, and they certanly are not going to allow their products to be charactarized as "unhealthy". That's been a war spanning decades.

 

[stevegmu]

FDA is 100% about market control. There is nothing about public health and safety.

There isn't enough that any vendor can do to satisfy them other than cease to exist.

I don't believe that one bit. I think the mature vendors have already done the work to get certified- like Halo and Johnson Creek. My guess is they already have tests, ingredients lists and lab certifications which will meet requirements...

 

[caramel]

Should alcohol and condoms loose their flavors too?

Definitely. On top of it, condoms should be perforated in order to reduce suffocation risks when improperly used by The Children.

 

[aikanae1]

I don't believe that one bit. I think the mature vendors have already done the work to get certified- like Halo and Johnson Creek. My guess is they already have tests, ingredients lists and lab certifications which will meet requirements...

I don't want to vape Halo, of all places, and isn't Johnson Creek owned by a tobacco firm?

I don't want them. Why do I have to depend on your guesses? Is it that so many have gotten sick?
Oh yea, they haven't.

Why is this an arguement? The bills added nothing of value. There is no evidence kida are attracted and there hasn't been any problems health-wise, unlike with Chantix and cigarettes, both FDA approved.