“The Georgia Senate Friday voted to impose a tax of up to 7% on vaping products and raise the age to buy both the nicotine delivery devices and tobacco to 21 from 18. The new tax could bring in as much as $19 million, according to the bill’s sponsor. Mullis echoed Harrell’s position that higher cigarette taxes won’t happen this year on the Senate floor Friday, but predicted lawmakers might raise the tobacco tax in 2021. “I’d say that’s coming, probably next session, but no, no additional tobacco tax, no additional taxes on anything except excise funds for vaping products,” he said.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Ga. Senators OK Tax On Vape Products, Raise Cigarette Purchase Age To 21

Hi Phil, First I want to say thank you for helping my dad quit smoking. He has been following you for 10 years and actually met you in Vegas.

He is very grateful but I am expressing my gratitude because his 60th birthday is coming up and I don’t think he would have made it unless he quit when he did.

I also have quit because of the knowledge he shared with me, that he learned from you, Dimitri, and Grimm Green.

Really, just thank you again for helping my dad be around longer for all that love him. I hope your staying safe and thanks again.

Here’s the latest from Brent Stafford at Regulator Watch:

He’s a secret, wrapped up in an enigma, and smothered in secret sauce. Who is he?
Mike Peterson from “Vaping and the Mic” describes him as “the onion chef of Twitter.” Vapers.org.uk says his “gritty distinctive style is ever-readable.” And THR advocate Ivanna Awrey exclaims: “Bless your crankiness, Kevin Crowley!”

Joining us today for a special edition of RegWatch is the man himself, Kevin Crowley. The founder of the most-comprehensive pro-vaping resource on the web: vapinglinks.blog. The sharp edge on the @Vapingit Twitter account. And the man whose work advocating for vaping is so impactful, researchers mistake him as a bot. Yes, a bot!

This conversation could go anywhere, don’t miss it!

Live Streamed: June 25, 2020

Sr. Producer: Cindy Schmidt
Exec. Producer: Brent Stafford

This episode is supported by: DVINE – FLAVOUR CRAFTERS – VAPE NATION

Make RegWatch happen, go to: support.regulatorwatch.com

Although we have our own issues here in the US with vaping, it’s always feel good to help our vaping brothers and sisters around the world.

Australia is under attack and could lose all vaping. You can help!

Sign the Vape Petition HERE.
Find out more about “Legalise Vaping Australia” HERE.
Donate to the Australian Vapers’ Fighting Fund HERE.

Here’s the latest from Brent Stafford at Regulator Watch:

There’s no doubt the U.S. vaping industry faces a public perception problem of gargantuan proportions.
While advocates maintain (and research backs up) that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, everyday anti-vaping forces meet continued success in their effort to permanently poison the public understanding of vaping.

Compounding the problem is a simple fact: vapers are not a monolithic group drawn from one political perspective or party. How then should the vaping movement activate politically in this U.S. presidential election in order to meet what is clearly is a political threat i.e. flavor bans, taxation, and other onerous regulations?

Joining us today on RegWatch is Matt Culley, a prominent vaping activist and virtuoso of vaping product review videos on YouTube. Known as Matt From SMM, he’s amassed near 300,000 subscribers and 60 million video views. Culley is one of the first product reviewer superstars to venture into the vaping advocacy space, bringing a strong ethical voice and his support for progressive values to bear.

Is there a winning message to persuade politicians and the public about the virtues of vaping?

Find out! Only on RegWatch by RegulatorWatch.com.

Live Streamed: June 24, 2020

Sr. Producer: Cindy Schmidt
Exec. Producer: Brent Stafford

This episode is supported by: DEMAND VAPE

Make RegWatch happen, go to: support.regulatorwatch.com

“A late-session push in the Senate would raise the state’s cigarette tax and stick a tax on vape products, which has so far eluded legislators. The Republican-led effort would raise the state’s current 37-cent per pack rate up to $1.35, which rivals what Florida charges its smokers. People would pay $1.25 per fluid milliliter or cubic centimeter for vapor products, which are not taxed today.”

BILL TARLING —  Claims that vapor products do not get taxed is misleading — they are taxed just like other consumer products. A $1.25/ml tax means you would be paying $75 just in tax for a 60ml bottle of e-liquid (plus the Retail Cost)

ARTICLE LINK:

State Senate Push For Cigarette Tax Hike Aims To Cushion Spending Cuts

“Health Minister Greg Hunt has delayed the ban on prescription nicotine-based e-cigarettes by six months to January 2021 after feeling the pressure from members of his own party. Mr Hunt said in a statement today that further time would be allowed to put in place a streamlined process for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Health Minister delays ban on prescription nicotine-based e-cigarettes

“The town of Bethlehem adopted stringent new tobacco and vaping sales regulations on Wednesday night that will require a town license to sell smoking products. The Town Board voted to approve a six-month moratorium on the approval of any new vape or smoke shops while town officials create the licensing system as well as set the cost of the permit. The board also passed a new local law that not only creates the licensing system but also bans vape shops 1,000 feet from a school. The licensing system would also include a “cap and winnow” system that would require two tobacco licenses to be retired before a new one will be issued. Board member Jim Foster, the sole ‘no’ vote on the two measures, said he would have supported the passage if he believed it would save even one child from picking up a smoking habit.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Bethlehem votes to pass new tobacco regulations

“The key House committee approved a seven percent tax on vaping products Wednesday but declined to take on a hike in tobacco taxes. Vaping products could be taxed at as much as 7% of the wholesale price, depending on the type of device. That would add about $6 million per year to the state’s general fund, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The rate is designed to be similar to the 37-cent tax for tobacco products, said Rep. Bonnie Rich, a Suwanee Republican.”

ARTICLE LINK:

State House Committee Pushes For New Tax On Vaping Products

“Vaping nicotine is a popular exit strategy for smokers who are unable to quit using current treatments. It is more effective than nicotine patches and gums and for many it is a safer long-term replacement to prevent relapse to smoking. Successful harm reductions have taken a bottom-up approach. Vaping is similarly a bottom-up approach, and therefore likely to succeed. Vaping is a disruptive innovation that has significantly undermined the cigarette industry. In the past few years since vaping and other harm-reduction options began to eat into the lucrative cigarette market, the market capitalisation of tobacco companies has fallen steeply. Last Friday, minutes after Parliament rose for a six-week winter recess, the Health Minister Greg Hunt announced draconian new restrictions for Australia’s 300,000 vapers’ capacity to obtain nicotine liquid. Greg Hunt, the Australian health establishment and the World Health Organisation are deeply entrenched in their positions against tobacco harm reduction and this disruptive innovation.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Why Australia should make it as easy as possible for smokers to switch to vaping