New Mexico bill (H 15) would ban sales of e-cigs to minors, would ban self service displays

[Bill Godshall]

New Mexico bill (H 15) would ban sales of e-cigs to minors, would ban self service displays, would ban Internet sales of e-cigs to minors (but not to adults), referred to House Health, Government and Indian Affairs Cmte
New Mexico Legislature
HB0015

Since all self service displays of tobacco products are already banned in New Mexico (i.e. no exemptions for tobacco specialty stores), it is going to be difficult to eliminate the e-cig self service display ban in H 15. But I don't think that would cause problems for vape shops (as they'll just have to have more and larger display counters to store the products in or behind).

 

[patkin]

This seems to be one of the more level-headed ones.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Another New Mexico bill (SB 232) would ban the sale of "alternative nicotine products" and "vapor products" to minors.

The bill was just introduced yesterday, and isn't available yet on the NM legislative website.

 

[Coelli]

See, this is the kind of bill that makes sense - I wish other states would follow suit instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Since more than a dozen bills have already been introduced to ban the sale of "vapor products" and/or "alternative nicotine products" to minors, it looks like CTFK, ACS, AHA and ALA will be opposing (or at least publicly complaining about) lots of bills to ban e-cig sales to minors.

Hopefully, legislators in other states will grill and criticize the ANTZ about their opposition to these bills (as occurred in Oklahoma last week).

 

[Bill Godshall]

On Friday, the day after it was introduced, SB 232 was recommended for approval by the NM Senate Committee on Committees
New Mexico Legislature
SB0232

 

[Bill Godshall]

Yesterday, the NM House Health, Government and Indian Affairs Cmte voted 7-1 to recommend passage of HB 15.
New Mexico Legislature

 

[Bill Godshall]

Yesterday, the NM House Judiciary Cmte also recommended passage of HB 15.

 

[erazzz]

Living in New Mexico, it seems a lot of this is already in place. At most gas stations you can only buy e-cigs from behind the counter and last time I bought one I was asked for ID. I'm guessing that is just store policy?

I'm not IDed at the local shops, but most of them know me personally and know I'm 22. Actually, one of the shops that sells to me wouldn't sell a disposable ecig to my brother, who was 17 at the time. Also, a lot of shops keep their liquids in plastic or glass cases to prevent theft.

Doesn't seem like a bad law to me, esp since many stores have already enacted such policies.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The New Mexico House of Reps approved HB 15
New Mexico Legislature
with a 65-0 vote
http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/14 regular/votes/HB0015HVOTE.pdf
after the House slightly amended HB 15 at
HB0015FH1

HB 15 has been referred to the NM Senate Judiciary Committee and the NM Senate Public Affairs Committee

 

[Bill Godshall]

The NM Senate Public Affairs Cmte has recommended approving HB 15
HB0015PA1

 

[Bill Godshall]

The NM Senate Judiciary Cmte has recommended approving HB 15 (but only by a 5-4 margin).
HB0015JU1


Don't know why 4 NM Senators would vote NO on the bill (unless they heavily lobbied to do so by the ANTZ).

Regardless, it appears HB 15 will now go to the full NM Senate for final passage.

 

[Placebo Effect]

The NM Senate Judiciary Cmte has recommended approving HB 15 (but only by a 5-4 margin).
HB0015JU1


Don't know why 4 NM Senators would vote NO on the bill (unless they heavily lobbied to do so by the ANTZ).

Regardless, it appears HB 15 will now go to the full NM Senate for final passage.

Yes, they have been lobbied and there was some fear that it would slow down in the Senate. The good news was and is that the anti-tax New Mexico Governor likely would veto any bill with a new tax in it.