From Wanting To Ban Vaping In Vape Shops To Pissing On Proven Science Just One Week In America’s War On Vaping
I said on this week’s Vaping News I’d show you just how fast the anti vaping movement is growing at an alarming rate across the States and this depressing post shows a selection of just one week’s worth of bans and new vape legislation.
Both state and local politicos are passing or ready to pass draconian anti-vape laws at every opportunity as they gather under the flag the FDA supremo Scott Gottlieb is waving like some kind of modern day civil war general.
The war on vaping though is certainly not civil especially in America where lies downright lies and BS forms part of the rhetoric gobbled up by the media and spewed out like venom onto the by now highly confused public.
OK a reminder this is just one week – ONE week of new laws – ban orders and other BS that really does include anti-vaping puppets and a politician demanding that vaping be banned inside vape shops…yeah really.
It’s a long read and really as I explain below the tip of the iceberg of the quite frightening number of uneducated politicians and the like rallying to the battle cry ‘Ban Vaping!’
Vermont To Ban Online Vape Sales
Democratic Rep. George Till has introduced a new bill that would ban all internet sales in the state.
This is the first of many anti-vape laws he’s introducing and would in effect mean Vermont residents would be unable to have any type of vape gear from mods to e-liquids shipped to their homes.
He’s also preparing a new bill that would slap a tax on all vape products bringing them in line with lit tobacco.
New York Flavour Bans and Age Restrictions
Governor Cuomo is looking to raise the age limit for buying all things e-cig to 21 as well as giving the Health Department powers to ban flavours they deem attractive to minors.
He’s also looking at forcing vape shops in the state to become licensed to enable what he calls ‘law enforcement’ to keep a closer eye on sales to minors.
If that’s not enough he wants to ban pharmacies [chemists] from selling any type of e-cigarette leaving Big Pharma owned products such as nicotine gums – sprays and patches with no competition.
As the source of this points out New York received $2billion dollars from tobacco tax and payments last year alone with just $40 million of that spent on quit smoking programmes.
And in a curious twist the same governor is backing the legalization of marijuana which the majority of users of course ‘smoke’ like lit tobacco…by all accounts the tax on cannabis is really and I mean really filling local and state coffers…just a coincidence I’m sure…
Punishments For New York School Vapers
Students ‘caught’ vaping will face a 3 day suspension with repeat ‘offenders’ given 5 days out of school.
And as of now any confiscated vape devices will not be given back either.
School principal Jack Taft said:
We recognize that it is property and there is a dollar value attached to that. But I think on the flip-side, any reasonable person would say, ‘My child’s health and well-being far exceeds any dollar value.
It’s not clear what punishment is to be given to kids caught smoking…
Young Vapers Free Quit Program Launched
Truth Initiative is a non profit organization that concentrates on preventing kids from smoking lit tobacco.
However given the anti-nicotine brigade over the states are in full flow they have started campaigning against the none tobacco related vape industry.
They have answered the recent rallying cry by the Surgeon General proclaiming a ‘teen vape epidemic’ state-side by launching a free program for youngsters addicted to vaping.
The program – called Quitting E-cigarettes – is an app designed they say with the help of vape addicted youngsters and puppet themed ‘educational’ anti vape videos.
Youngsters that sign up receive daily tailored text messages and can also get 1:1 support from ‘experts’.
I had a quick look at a couple of the videos and the one titled ‘Mind Blown’ did indeed do that to me as in I was literally mind blown over how those puppets can talk out of their collective arses…given they’ve got a hand shoved up there…
“Scare” Students Away From Vaping
To Massena Central school New York where a meeting on e-cigarettes apparently received no comments passed a total vape ban.
Nothing too bad about that one could argue except for the worrying phrase from one school trustee and a tone that is fanning the currently wildfire of vape bans and anti-vape laws.
Superintendent Pat Brady had suggested [wrongly] the main concern was e-cigs meant kids were more likely to take up smoking [*sighs*] however Trustee Kevin Peretta said:
Move it back. Scare them early.
To his credit Brady did ask if that meant educating the youngsters however Peretta was unmoved:
When I was growing up, that’s what they did. They scared you when you were in fourth grade.
Like I said the tone against all things vape is not dripping into the psyche of the average American but positively flooding it.
Scaring kids is bad enough but maybe more morally acceptable than medicating the shit out them…just a thought…
Richmond Virginia Attacking Vaping
A name and part of the world synonymous with tobacco however they are looking to raise the age of legally buying tobacco and vape products to 21 from 18.
It looks like the new law will pass too as the Washington Post states some of the most powerful politicians in the state are backing it.
However it’s to the vape once again the politicos have turned their collective eyes and yup once again they are flag waving members of the Gottlieb crusade brigade. However, of greater interest is the stance on this by Altria – the parent company of among others PMI – Marlboro and IQOS.
The company has a base in the state and full support the age rise for both lit tobacco and e-cigarettes! Spokesman David Sutton told the Times:
While tobacco use among persons under 18 is at historic lows, underage e-vapor use has increased alarmingly and [the] FDA has characterized this trend as an epidemic.
Tobacco harm reduction for adults cannot succeed without effective measures to reduce underage use of all tobacco products. The best approach to achieving this goal is simple: raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21. We fully support the Virginia legislature acting now to raise the minimum age.
Big Tobacco agreeing there’s a teen ‘vape epidemic’ – now who’da thought…especially one that’s just bought 35% shares in JUUL where all this BS began…things that make you go ummmm..?
Brighton Michigan To Fine Vaping Youngsters
A meeting of those in the know in Brighton Michigan saw the police chief no less updating politicians on plans to fine youngsters caught vaping.
According to the smallish article whilst there is an age restriction of 18 for people to buy e-cigs Michigan is the only state where vaping by minors is not ‘illegal’.
There’s no mention of the amount of money ‘offenders’ will be fined but the ordinance will come into effect very soon…
Mahopac New York – Vape Shop Opens Despite Ban
A little chink of good news but only just!
The Carmel Town Board in Mahopac had forced through a new law that in effective bans any new vape shops opening in the area.
However and despite opposition with the anti brigade using such phrases as:
The discrete nature of certain vape products has high school administrators chasing ghosts throughout the building.
And this little gem:
[vaping] is potentially catastrophic with nicotine addiction or popcorn lung permanently scarring tissue on the lung common. A Harvard study found that 39 of 51 e-juices tested contained chemicals including formaldehyde and propylene glycol used in anti-freeze that can cause cancer.
Luckily for the couple wanting to open the vape shop – in which they’d invested over $75,000 – they had signed all the relevant papers before the ban order came into effect…
Phew!
Baltimore’s 3 New Anti Vape Laws
Not only do the city council of Baltimore want to ban flavoured e-liquids they also want to re-define the name e-cigarettes.
They are also looking to force vape shops to carry huge sign explaining the ‘health risks’ of all vape products.
Council Wants To BAN Vaping In Vape Shops!
Yeah now this is a real WTF moment lol…
OK I really shouldn’t laugh but the stupidity of this one managed to bring a wry old smile to my face after trawling through all this total BS!
To Appleton Wisconsin where the local council wants to ban vaping in all public spaces and the workplace to include vape shops…hahaha….must…not…laugh…
Alderwoman Cathy Spears who is bringing in the bill reckons it’s the threat of passive vaping [no such thing] especially because the vapour contains ‘airborne particles and nicotine…’ yeah really lol…
Read my lips – there is NO DANGER FROM PASSIVE VAPING!!!!!!!!!!!!
However the lady ain’t for turning telling the local Health Board:
This is going forward, so I would not anticipate that anybody can vape even in a vaping shop…
The stupidity meter is off the scale with this on…
Source and reaction from local vape shops!
Prescott Arizona School New Vape Laws
Yet another school in the US feeling the need to write up new rules to ban vaping and bringing in the cops to help!
WTF is it with the need for local police chiefs to muscle in on school rules on vaping ain’t they got better ‘crimes’ to I dunno solve?
Anyway the current ‘law’ reads as:
Prohibited possession of vaping device products on school property.
However school officials and the police chief no less don’t think this is clear enough and it will be revised next month.
Englewood Board Of Health Regulates All Things Vape
Vape shops in Englewood Colorado will have to pay licensing fees of $1,200 per year in order to stay in business.
The Health Board recently passed the new legislation which included other regulations including the banning of anything e-cig related in vending machines.
The bill – called Chapter 535 of the Health Code, Part III of the City Code entitled “Electronic Tobacco Delivery Systems” – was voted for unanimously by the members.
State Assemblyman Gordon Johnson said:
As a former Bergen County Sheriff, I know that the health, safety and well-being of the residents is a top priority.
It is appropriate to put in place at the local level of government, a framework to ensure public safety… I applaud Dr. Lisa Wisotsky and the members of the Englewood Board of Health for taking meaningful enforcement steps to protect our kids. We can’t let another public health epidemic take hold in our country.
This time it’s a former cop stepping in to put restrictions on vaping and that phrase “We can’t let another public health epidemic take hold in our country” beggars belief…
Somerville Massachusetts – Age and Point Of Sale Restrictions
Yet another Health Board bringing in local laws designed to restrict the sale of e-cigarettes.
In Somerville the only shops allowed to sell anything vape related will be those where under 21s are not allowed such as licensee tobacco stores.
Director of Health and Human Services Doug Kress said:
We’re seeing that the popularity of vaping … has really grown exponentially in our community. It’s very alarming.
No mate what’s ‘alarming’ is your knee jerk reaction to what is a life saving answer to smoking because hey you’re still selling menthol flavoured lit tobacco…
No New Vape Shops In Myrtle Beach SC…For Now…
They don’t know why but the local politicians in Myrtle Beach have banned any new vape or ‘smoke shops’ from opening up for the foreseeable future.
The ban will be enforced for one year whilst the confused politicians work out why they need to er ban them in the first place!
City Manager John Pederson said:
Council doesn’t want to be over taken by events and find out that while the planning commission is studying them that they’re on every corner so basically they’ve put a halt on any new ones…
The city also has a CBD sales ban in parts of the city and despite not having a single legal marijuana shop is also looking into banning those too…
Existing vape shops are not affected however the council has suggested any new local laws may well affect how they run their businesses…I’m guessing a ‘cash-grab’ of licensing fees maybe…
Montana Wants A 50% Vape Tax!
They failed in trying to bring in a 33% vape tax last year but are back again this time looking to get a 50% tax on all things vape!
And yup the main reason is to of course ‘protect the kids’ with Kristin Page-Nei from the American Cancer Society reeling out the same old story:
Don’t be duped, this is just another product that’s being promoted that addicts our kids.
No it isn’t…*bangs head on desk*
Source and rebuttals from the local vape industry
Columbus Ohio Wants A Vape Tax
The American Cancer Society is at it in Ohio too asking for anything vape related to be taxed in line with lit tobacco.
They are asking the state to free up $35 million for smoking cessation programmes and suggest a vape tax would obviously help with funding.
Here’s a thought…most smokers have quit successfully on their own using much safer e-cigarettes – so why not leave them the hell alone?
Maybe it’s just yet another ‘cash-grab’ to fund the already overflowing coffers of both states and of course the anti-tobacco/vaping lobby…who knows 😉
Pennsylvania Pisses On Proven Vape Science
OK so when is NOT safer than smoking lit tobacco?
Why in Pennsylvania of course silly!
The Pennsylvania Department of Health tweeted this complete bollocks last week:
E-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-hookahs, mods, vape pens or vapes—whatever you call them, they are NOT safer than other tobacco products. Learn how you can help protect you child’s health by talking about the dangers of vaping → https://t.co/swNywvr9mC #NoEcigs4Kids pic.twitter.com/CJ4CC407LP
— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) January 21, 2019
Holy shit! I’ll just leave that there…complete with lingering bad smell of complete and utter BS!!!
North Dakota – Vape Tax?
Seems to be a bit of theme going on with more and more local at state-wide politicians calling for a tax on all things vape.
In North Dakota they’re following the trend and of course they’ve wrapped it up in that old tired mantra ‘we need to protect the kids’.
Senator JoNell Bakke who supports the suggested tax said:
We don’t want them to think that this is alternative smoking that is not going to hurt me, but it will hurt them. There is nicotine in these.
The tobacco companies and the people making these electronic cigarettes are making them very attractive with all these wonderful flavors. We want to take some of that glamour out of it by hitting them in the pocketbook.
Christ in a hand cart…they are very attractive to adults given they save lives…
Tyler Texas Bans Vaping
New laws in Tyler now lump vaping in with smoking.
You cannot now vape where smoking is prohibited with the local council making it very clear exactly what vaping is:
Electronic Smoking Device means an electronic, mechanical heating element or battery-operated device that delivers nicotine or other substances for inhalation.
This term shall include every variation and type of such devices whether they are manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigar, an electronic cigarillo, an electronic pipe, an electronic hookah or any other product name or descriptor.
That was Just The Tiniest Tip Of The Anti Vaping Iceberg
I think you get my drift and trust me there’s even more bans and anti-vape laws in my inbox from just last week – tons of the bloody things…
There’s even more that I can’t access due to the articles being behind a pay-wall OR as seems to be the case that bloody EU cookie rule thing that prohibits us from seeing certain USA based sites. I counted at least 15 articles I wasn’t able to access due to that and at least another 30 I just couldn’t be arsed to write about lol…not lazy I just found it extremely depressing and worrying…
I’m not a pessimist despite many thinking I am lol and I don’t want to be the crazy conspiracy theorist shouting the ‘end is nigh’ at every opportunity.
However join all these local and state wide anti-vape laws and bans together and you can see the bigger picture – vaping as we know it in America is severely under threat.
How the hell the advocacy groups over there fight this I have no idea at all…and there lies the problem…once a wildfire starts to spread it’s nigh on impossible to contain it.
If it continues like this then I’m sorry to say vaping in the USA is doomed.
So it will be easier to buy a gun that it will to buy a Smok kit??
Wow…
It’s looking that way more and more…crazy times…