Maine alert

[progg]

This bill doesn't state the word e-cig directly but the bill's language is elastic enough for future 'adjustment'. As I understand it the bill has been referred to the Health and Human Services Committee and hasn't been scheduled for a public hearing yet.

News Article --http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130406/GJNEWS_01/130409505&template=SouthernMaineRegion

The link at the above article end is broken (at least for me).

Actual Legislative Document :http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0950&item=1&snum=126

 

[Placebo Effect]

This is an absolutely horrid bill. I suspect it is another bill (like New Mexico) where the sponsor is unaware that her language would tax e-cigarettes.

tobacco products.


"tobacco products" means products containing, made or derived from tobacco that are intended for human consumption by any means, or any components, parts or accessories of tobacco products ...

....

A. Other tobacco.
Beginning October 1, 2013, a tax is imposed on tobacco products at a tax rate based on the wholesale sales price of the tobacco products that is equivalent to the rate of tax imposed on a pack of 20 cigarettes in chapter 703 expressed as a percentage of the average wholesale sales price of a pack of 20 cigarettes as determined by the State Tax Assessor.

I asked one of the CASAA board members to look at the bill and give his interpretation

It seems to mean "start with the tax paid on cigarettes and convert that to an average tax rate per 20 cigarettes" (the average is probably needed because some or all of the tax is ad valorum, so it varies by wholesale price, and thus brand). Then, MAGIC OCCURS in order to "figure out how much of an alternative product is equivalent to 20 cigs" and then applies the tax rate originally calculated to that quantity of the alternative product

Many companies that sell disposables falsely /misleadingly claim that an e-cig is equal to 2 packs of cigarettes. If the Tax Assessor believed that, he would seemingly be empowered to levy a $4 tax per per disposable.

CTA coming soon. I want to speak to the sponsor first.

 

[solace.discord]

Maine doesn't have any vape shops yet.. and this could prevent them from sprouting.

I'm willing to do what I can to remove e-cigs from this. not all nicotine is derived from tobacco. and nothing I vape is tobacco based. still confused as to how they can lump it all into one "tobacco" category.

in the meantime, seems I have until Oct 1 to stock up!

 

[ad356]

outragous. tobacco products should be taxed according to danger level. vaping offers very little danger level, therefore it should carry a very low tax if any at all. nothing satisfies these people other then complete and total abstinence. i do not live in maine but i have good friends that do. i hope this bill does not pass, i know for a fact they do not use nicotine but i think any bill that strips freedoms should never pass.

what is it with these people. the more states that adapt this type of legislation the more it will spread, just like guns laws

 

[TomCatt]

Maine doesn't have any vape shops yet.. and this could prevent them from sprouting.

I'm willing to do what I can to remove e-cigs from this. not all nicotine is derived from tobacco. and nothing I vape is tobacco based. still confused as to how they can lump it all into one "tobacco" category.

in the meantime, seems I have until Oct 1 to stock up!

Pretty much all nicotine that that is used for eliquid (and pharmaceutical NRTs) is derived from tobacco. Synthesizing nicotine is prohibitively expensive when compared to the relative ease of extracting it from tobacco.

 

[Oliver]

Looks to me that 7B in that document pretty much covers e-cigarettes. The giveaway is the caveat for pharmaceutical products, all of which are derived from tobacco, ultimately.

 

[progg]

Include snus as well, and the elasticity of the bill as a whole includes, seemingly, whatever your tobacco preference might be. Smoking has of course been proscribed in other bills.

According to the Maine Legislature's website the bill status is :

(EMERGENCY)

Referred to Committee on Taxation on Apr 3, 2013.
Latest Committee Report: Not Reported Out

No public hearings or worksessions have been listed for this bill.

 

[solace.discord]

just read thru the bill again: if they were to tax e-liquid, gums, lozenges or other non-cigarette tobacco items, on the basis of "equivalent to 20 cigarettes," they would have to do some major research and testing on how much e-liquid at what strength in what size bottle equals 20 cigarettes.

hopefully, ain't nobody got time for that. but if they did, would eliminate a lot of work for those of us who know it's better for us!
"please refer to Maine Statute blah-blah-blah"

bittersweet... still stocking up beforehand.

 

[Vapor Vinny]

"Beginning October 1, 2013, a tax is imposed on tobacco products at a tax rate based on the wholesale sales price of the tobacco products that is equivalent to the rate of tax imposed on a pack of 20 cigarettes in chapter 703 expressed as a percentage of the average wholesale sales price of a pack of 20 cigarettes as determined by the State Tax Assessor."

THAT is the future of ecigs. Sorry to say. We keep voting these fools into office, so, in theory, I guess we deserve what we get.

 

[Placebo Effect]

CASAA: Call to Action! Maine Bill to Tax E-Cigarettes At Same Rate as Cigarettes -- HB 950

 

[solace.discord]

I've seen Maine do some really silly things, but this is ridiculous. if all tobacco products are to be included, then throw in the patches, lozenges and gums too and tax them all the same. anything containing nicotine. make it fair.

but I can't see the parts and accessories being taxed the same, as they are not made from tobacco- metal and plastic and batteries.. are they going to tax lighters and matches and cigar boxes and cigarette cases and holders and all the rest, the same as cigarettes as well?

how would this affect online purchases shipped to Maine? what about those of us who bought our supplies before all this happened? the cops can just take it from us?

with all my might and loudness of voice, I'm in for the fight. and printing out all of my receipts to prove prior to Oct 1 purchases.

they obviously don't understand what e-cigs are and can do for people, it is not the same as a cigarette, just like the patch is not the same as a cigarette.. this proposal goes above and beyond any measure of sanity from an educated individual's standpoint.

instead of disguising a tax on a harm-reduction method (and accessories) as a way to keep it out of the hands of minors, perhaps they should encourage the use of harm-reduction methods and make them easier to come by. help out that hospital bill thing we've got going on.

 

[Placebo Effect]

We need someone in Maine to make phone calls to every legislator on the committee informing them about the negative implications of Rep. Rochelo's bill. Can you be that person?

Can you attend the hearing in Augusta if there is one?

Maine is not full of vapers -- those that we have really need to stand up and fight.

 

[solace.discord]

I am willing and able! I'll just need some guidance on what to do and say.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I am willing and able! I'll just need some guidance on what to do and say.

Shoot me an e-mail with your contact info -- gconley@casaa.org.

 

[Factor52]

Bill would make it a crime for an ecigarette vendor to sell without a tobacco liscense and for a Maine citzen to import more than a pound of e cigarette products.

The largest Tobacco wholesaler in the State is headquartered within walking distance across the street from the State Capital building. I happen to know they lobby for tobacco related legislation in all of New England. Maine is considered to be their property.

I wish I was in Maine to help out. But encourage anyone that is, to do so considering the Fox is in the henhouse!!

 

[solace.discord]

educate and retaliate!

I sent off an informative email describing my personal experience, how e-cigs work, what this tax could mean to e-cigs and asked how it would come to effect the future of e-cigs in Maine, as well as asking for a change in the wording to be more specific.

copy is here: http://vapinggeekgrrl.blogspot.com/2013/04/call-to-action-me-hp-950.html#more

of course after I send it, I notice the date at the beginning is 2012 and found another typo or two. whoops!

 

[progg]

Latest @ Maine Legislature

(EMERGENCY)

Referred to Committee on Taxation on Apr 3, 2013.
Latest Committee Report: Not Reported Out

Public HearingsMonday, May 6, 2013 10:00 AM,State House, Room 127

 

[solace.discord]

best get myself together then!

this this like a Q&A, or do I have to write a speech?

 

[progg]

best get myself together then!

this this like a Q&A, or do I have to write a speech?

The Maine website's link for the -- citizen's guide -- is broken for me.

A guide that I found from a group with which I have no association : http://www.mainefarmbureau.com/docs...r_voice_matters-guidelines_for_testifying.pdf

 

[progg]

And an example from YT :