No online sales to Arkansas?

[puffon]

Received this today from Vapor Shark
Wonder if this affects businesses selling from Arkansas, and also to consumers having product sent into Arkansas.
Not good..........

Online Retail Sales Prohibited in Arkansas Effective Today
Arkansas ACT 1235 (SB978)

Arkansas ACT 1235 (SB978) is officially in full effect as of today, July 21, 2015. The bill classifies vapor products as tobacco products thereby inherently prohibits any online retail or direct online B2C sales of any "vapor product, alternative nicotine product or e-liquid product" to occur within the Arkansas state line. In addition to disallowing online retail sales relating to any vaping product, all brick & mortar retail locations within Arkansas must now obtain licenses in order to sell vaping products within the state.
See details about the bill here.

Vapor Shark has obtained Arkansas' Manufacturer Vapor Product and Alternative Nicotine Product Permit in order to continue selling and shipping products to all Arkansas brick & mortar locations on a wholesale B2B basis. Vapor Shark's entire product catalog is currently available to our approved wholesale customers within Arkansas. To find a wholesale partner's brick & mortar retail location near you, please click here and choose "Wholesale" under the locations tab.

The effect of Arkansas ACT 1235 (SB978) is not something to be taken lightly. Make your voice heard! The vaping community will continue to face similar legislation across multiple states and your support, input and participation is essential to this industry's stabilization and continuity. While this Arkansas legislation may be a big blow to many online businesses and consumers that choose to purchase their products from any web-based store, we will continue to fight the good fight and do our absolute best to truck forward in the maturation and growth of our industry, and we humbly ask that you help us by communicating with your state officials, senators and congress men and women!

There are many organizations that are dedicated to keeping our industry on the forefront of legislation similar to this. CASAA, or "The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association" is a great way for consumers to get involved and make a difference. SFATA, or the "Smoke Free Alternative Trade Association" is imperative to all retailers and manufacturers to be associated with. We are at a crucial turning point in our industry's history and it is important that every person gives back what was so freely given to them in this life-changing industry.

Thank You,

Vapor Shark

 

[Steelgirl]

I saw that. I'm concerned and I think it's just the beginning unfortunately.

 

[zoiDman]

Bump.

Because people Should be Aware of This.

 

[jrenae4]

Yes! Why is this not being discussed more? I figured to come here after work tonight and find a long thread on it already...this is highly disconcerting.

 

[xDarkRelic]

So that means as an Arkansas resident, I can no longer order juice?

What about orders on their way?

 

[sacullen]

I just assumed the words "Arkansas" and "intelligent discourse" were never used in the same sentence.

All kidding (not really) aside, it appears that businesses can get a license in order to conduct retail and online sales. Looks like a money grab to me. Was there a CTA for this?

 

[hashtag]

Harsh. I live in utah where they can't mail alcohol or tobacco, hopefully we aren't next.

 

[snkrumble]

I love this country just can't wait till they start hitting me up for a standing tax and breathing tax soon.

 

[dhood]

Even with "discreet" packaging?

 

[HauntedMyst]

Yes! Why is this not being discussed more?

Because it can't happen in other states. It won't will it? Arkansas is a backwards place. It's not like other states. It can't happen in other states. It just can't. Oh wait, it can. See my signature.

 

[crxess]

And people wonder why I started stockpiling over a year ago. Even with my meager stash I'm Good for a couple of years minimum.
Regulates Mods (7) check
Mech Mods (24) check
RTA's (14) Check
RTA's (8) check
Wick/Wire to the next millennium - Check
Gallon PG
Gallon VG
1000ml Flavorings
4000ml Nic and down to 3%

Bring it FDA and Bite Me!

I see a strong Black Market in our future.

I guess this means weight watchers can no longer order -0- nic Food substitutes for their vaporizers. Hello increased health cost.

 

[Bad Ninja]

They can never actually stop online sales.
Think about it.

 

[CuloMono]

Would this stop an entity in another state from buying the product then having it shipped to an Arkansas address?

 

[jseah]

Unless the name of the sender is obviously a vendor of vaping products (i.e. have "Vapor", etc.) in the name, how would they even know what's in the package? The state can't order USPS to open and check every single package being sent to an Arkansas resident without a court order, since that would be considered a federal offense for tampering with the US mail.

 

[Bunnykiller]

Unless the name of the sender is obviously a vendor of vaping products (i.e. have "Vapor", etc.) in the name, how would they even know what's in the package? The state can't order USPS to open and check every single package being sent to an Arkansas resident without a court order, since that would be considered a federal offense for tampering with the US mail.

labels can be read by a machine... it reads the return address and if that address is in some type of database flagging specific addresses as vendors, then bam... it gets diverted into the "someone is breaking the law bin" they now have your address to send you the fine, and the address to the vendor to send them a nasty note..

what has me bothered, is the ban on vape gear... batteries? mods? attys? what do we use to vape our 0nic juice?

 

[jrenae4]

Unless the name of the sender is obviously a vendor of vaping products (i.e. have "Vapor", etc.) in the name, how would they even know what's in the package? The state can't order USPS to open and check every single package being sent to an Arkansas resident without a court order, since that would be considered a federal offense for tampering with the US mail.

Interesting. Made me think about how awhile ago, velvet cloud vapor changed their name and website to simply "velvet cloud." They are in California.

 

[jseah]

labels can be read by a machine... it reads the return address and if that address is in some type of database flagging specific addresses as vendors, then bam... it gets diverted into the "someone is breaking the law bin" they now have your address to send you the fine, and the address to the vendor to send them a nasty note..

what has me bothered, is the ban on vape gear... batteries? mods? attys? what do we use to vape our 0nic juice?

And where would they get these addresses? I just went and checked several websites for different vendors (Mt. Baker being one of them) and nowhere on those websites are the addresses listed. They have telephone numbers, links to Facebook or Instagram or Twitter, but no physical or mailing address. I don't believe business abstracts identify whether a DBA is a retailer of vaping supplies. So unless you actually order from them, you would never know what the sender name and address would show up as on the package.

And what about Amazon? While the only vaping supplies sold there are sold by marketplace sellers, Amazon does "fulfill" some supplies like wire for making coils, batteries, cotton pads. So are they going to divert every package shipped by Amazon to the "scofflaw" bin? And every gas station, supermarket, Walmart, pharmacy or drug store that sells Vuse, Mark Tens and blus.....are they going to apply for a license to sell vaping products now?

 

[daleron]

<--------------

 

[vapeydave]

Someone has to pay inflated government salaries. It was only a matter of time. Welcome to the dark ages of vaping

 

[mattiem]

<----------------- here too daleron. Color me furious this morning.