Hawaiian vapers are on the verge of being penalised by a dramatic change to the law on the sale of e-liquids. The innocuous-sounding Bill SB2654 relates to the proposed addition of 70% in tax the state is intending to charge on the sale of e-liquids. The bill is designed to make shipping tobacco products to those outside the industry illegal. If you sell tobacco, you can sell vaping products. If you don’t, you’re out of the running.
This same bill is set to lump e-liquids in the same category as other tobacco products… even though e-liquids do not contain any tobacco. The bill is designed to make it illegal for anyone to sell these liquids to private buyers. Vaping businesses are already concerned that if the bill goes through, it will mean the beginning of the end for them.
Despite the fact numerous pieces of research confirm vaping is a far healthier alternative to smoking, some lawmakers seem hellbent on outlawing the option. In a time when governments everywhere are increasingly looking for ways to cut deaths from smoking, banning sales of vaping products is a strange approach. It is essentially throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Vaping provides a healthier solution to help people quit smoking, and yet there is little evidence those in charge are listening to the evidence.
Hawaiians are being urged to contact Representative John Mizuno directly to raise their concerns. The sooner this is done the better, if there is any chance of this proposed law being overridden and withdrawn.
What are your thoughts on the potential ban of sales of e-liquids to private individuals? Are you surprised at the decision, or that the law is close to going ahead? Let us know your opinion below.
