To me, their policy makes little sense.
They can't stop anyone buying their juice liquids from out-of-state as the result of banning state online sales. Lots of vendors who will still take your Western Union money order and ship to wherever, and little more than inconveniences are being achieved. Utah's B&Ms are gonna go under in all likelihood, and the state does not benefit from levying this 86% tax at all. From all appearances it's a BP pushed agenda, since this legislation creates little if any financial gain to the state. Further, the state does not want to loose the revenue from tobacco sales either.
People will be able to go out of state to buy supplies, but not everyone will be able to and internet sales into Utah will become a crime. Here's an excerpt from the call to action:
"4. Sections 1 and 7 also would decimate e-cigarette vendors in Utah who sell via the Internet or prompt them to move out-of-state. The sections could also empower the Utah Attorney General to prosecute out-of-state e-cigarette vendors for selling online to consumers in Utah, prompting many e-cigarette consumers in Utah to travel out-of-state to purchase the products. As such, Sections 1 and 7 would harm Utah businesses and reduce state tax revenue.
5. Section 7 may lead to thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of Utah e-cigarette users being unable to purchase anything more than a small number of e-cigarette brands. Utah covers over 80,000 square miles and contains less than 15 e-cigarette specialty stores, making storefronts inaccessible or inconvenient to many in the State."
Online sale of cigarettes has also been illegal in Utah since 2009. Funny place Utah. Polygamy is cool, but vaping
is baaaaaddd!
