Minnesota Sen. David Senjem's bill would double prices for e-cigarette smokers

[TexasTowelie]

The Minnesota legislature wants to impose a 30 cent per milliliter tax on eliquids for electronic cigarettes. Considering bottles of eliquid are typically sold in 30ml or 60ml sizes, that tax could add up to $9 or $18 per bottle – doubling prices and shuttering small vape shops across the state.

Bills in the House and Senate aim to come up with a standard tax for nicotine products. But as the Senate tax committee heard during its Wednesday hearing on the matter, e-cigs and the people that sell them fall into two big opposing categories.



Testifiers who spoke against the bill included a lobbyist for ClearWay Minnesota, an organization dedicated to keeping tobacco products out of the hands of kids, and Dr. Peter Denhel of the Twin Cities Medical Society.

They argued that the bill favors Big Tobacco companies’ e-cigarette products, such as NJOY and Blu., because these products have fixed, high nicotine concentrations in small amounts of overall eliquid. A tax based on the amount of liquid would be a break for them.

Read more: http://www.citypages.com/news/minnesota-sen-david-senjems-bill-would-double-prices-for-e-cigarette-smokers/415802183

[Alice11111]

1. Fine by me. Maybe they are better than more secondary

Smoke for the environment, but it still gets a generation hooked. I just came back from London, and people are stylishly pulling pretty ecigs from their purse, taking a hit, and putting them away, even in pubs where smoking is prohibited. I watched my sis in law doing this, at home, in front of her young teenagers, who already have their own hidden thing going.

Tax away. We are going to need it w DTs spending.

[Kimchijeon]

2. No way, this is horrible

I would look for a way around it if possible if this passes - ordering online etc. (whatever it takes I guess)

This kind of thing does favor Big tobacco's products, plain and simple. If it weren't for e-cigs, so many people I know would still be smoking. Hope it doesn't pass.

[the_sly_pig]

3. It's a bit much....

I certainly agree that nicotine in any form is a negative. But for we that have been addicted for a long time the e/cig is a god send.

Second hand smoke is definitely a threat with it's chemicals, but there has yet to be a study that states vapor is harmful to others. That being said I am a considerate vaper, I don't vape around others.

I could go on about how vaping has improved my life and health but it would likely make no difference to the rabid anti-smoker/vaper.

The point being is that people turn to vaping for its cost effectiveness and health benefits. Any infringements on the affordability to buy juice is playing into the hands of big tobacco.