URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Utah bill to tax e-cigarettes at 86% AND ban online sales -- HB 372 (hearing late-Wednesday afternoon)

[Vapor Vinny]

State governments and the Federal government will continue this type of legislation as long as it makes them money. I hate to say it, but there is virtually nothing you can do about it. You may stop this Bill, but you won't stop the Federal government. Ecigs cut into the amount of money the Feds receive from their outrageous tax on analog cigarettes. If you cut into the mafia's turf, the mafia takes your business.

I'd say America needs to wise up, but we're way past that. Ever been to a TEA party? Or did you just laugh at them and call them right-wing extremists? This is precisely the type of behavior that was being protested.

I'd never thought I'd live to see the day that "communist" China would be more open market than the United States. But that day has come and gone. We lose.

 

[DC2]

out-of-state members should not think of this as oh its Utah, I dont care its not my state. If this passes it sets precedent. If successful many other states will soon follow the trend.

Exactly, and everyone reading this should be sending an email to tell their story and explain their concerns.
And every vaper that lives in Utah should consider attending the meeting if at all possible, even if they are afraid to testify.

The more people that speak, the harder you will be to ignore.
And the more people that show up, whether they speak or not, the harder you will be to ignore.

With the help and guidance of CASAA, and the involvement of local vendors, we as a community have beaten these types of things many times.
But it takes involvement, not just sitting around hoping for the best.

 

[Jimmyjimjam]

86% is outrageous. Where did he come up with that number?

 

[SlowBoz]

The Rep. that authored the bill was just on the radio. They wouldn't put me through. Wish I was able to attend the hearing.

 

[Sikko]

That's the tax rate on "other tobacco products" here.

 

[cloudbringer]

Exactly, and everyone reading this should be sending an email to tell their story and explain their concerns.
And every vaper that lives in Utah should consider attending the meeting if at all possible, even if they are afraid to testify.

The more people that speak, the harder you will be to ignore.
And the more people that show up, whether they speak or not, the harder you will be to ignore.

With the help and guidance of CASAA, and the involvement of local vendors, we as a community have beaten these types of things many times.
But it takes involvement, not just sitting around hoping for the best.

The Chinese manufacturers really need to get on board because if they lose America they lose more than half their business. They need to start investing some of their profits into a powerful lobbying company, pay for some media relations get some serious scientific research done at respectable places so some form of legitimate documentation exists. You can't go to court with ifs ands or maybes, you need real statistical data.

The situation in Turkey is really weird. Ecigs and liquid are illegal to import but not illegal to sell however there is no domestic production. hmmm well how does it get on the selves? Ive group together a group of venders and they got a lawyer and we are preparing documentation for the government. Its tough over here, Turkey is the fifth largest tobacco market in the world and the second largest producer of tobacco so the big three have a lot of interest here but, we are not going down without a fight.

 

[SlowBoz]

Just received an email from the house. Bill was not adopted at this time. I will post details if I get them. Good news at this point.

 

[Bestillsoicanshootyou]

Chinese will probably own US in a few years. I'll bet their strategy is to let our government ban all the goodies, when they take over they will have a great market to sell to at much higher prices:}

 

[el lobo furtivo]

Just received an email from the house. Bill was not adopted at this time. I will post details if I get them. Good news at this point.

Great news! Not entirely surprising though, the bill seemed over-reaching and hastily thrown together. I'm sure there will be a round 2 though....

 

[Sikko]

Not entirely true, it was amended and moved on to a vote. More information can be found here:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...igarettes-86-ban-online-sales-hb-372-a-3.html

 

[Unc1987]

people if you dont live in utah, still email them and jsut dont mention where you live. your state could be next. the first state to pass something will very quickly be followed by the 32nd state to enact such laws. states are desperate for revenue, and these bills will pass without being well thought of, for various obvious reasons, especially the misinformed lawmakers. this is a fledgling industry will little, well-organzied lobbying power at this point. it takes a few minutes to compose an email you can send to multiple people

 

[Placebo Effect]

CTA has been updated. Please e-mail members of the full House.

Utah citizens should make special efforts to reach out to their own legislators.

 

[OrangeCrush]

Sent email

 

[martinc]

Keep in mind that for them e-cigarettes are 510/808/etc devices.

Your APVs...they probably never seen one.

 

[patkin]

Dang! ElectronicStix is in Ogden UT.

 

[DC2]

Dang! ElectronicStix is in Ogden UT.

And they are a quality operation that has been in business a long time.
I would have to imagine they are on top of this?

 

[Sikko]

Yes, they closed their stores (all 3) early on the day of the hearing and all the employees went. I know the Utah Vapers were there as well, and a couple of other vendors.

 

[DC2]

Yes, they closed their stores (all 3) early on the day of the hearing and all the employees went. I know the Utah Vapers were there as well, and a couple of other vendors.

With that much involvement from the vaping community you would expect to see this defeated or amended.
In the past, this kind of community involvement has almost always worked.

But this is Utah, and we have also seen what can happen in Utah.
So I can only hope it goes well for you guys.

 

[Sikko]

I don't know how much good these things do, but there is also a petition on change.org. Worth signing anyway.

https://www.change.org/petitions/hb...-tax-increase-on-electronic-cigarettes-e-cigs

 

[DC2]

I don't know how much good these things do, but there is also a petition on change.org. Worth signing anyway.

https://www.change.org/petitions/hb...-tax-increase-on-electronic-cigarettes-e-cigs

Thanks, I didn't even know about that one.