Hawaii to tax e-cigs by 70%

[Royal]

I received an email from a supplier in Hawaii asking me for help.
The state of Hawaii has introduced two bills, both are essentially the same, only one is a house bill while the other is a senate bill.
These bills, places e-cigarettes with other tobacco products as items prohibited to be sold to a minor and amends the definition of "tobacco products" for purposes of taxation.

Everyone agrees, that e-cigs should not legally be sold to a minor, but to tax e-cigs in the same manner as real tobacco products, will in effect make them more costly to consumers than the conventional cigarettes, which will no doubt force many electronic cigarette users back to smoking cigarettes.
The wording of these bills will in effect place not only e-liquid and prefilled carts under the already astronomical tax rate as cigarettes, but it will also place every e-cig accessory under this tax rate as well, ie; batteries, atomizers, cartomizers, carrying cases, drip tips, adaptors etc, etc.

The supplier has asked me to sign a petition to the State of Hawaii to stop these two bills from being passed or signed in to law, which I have already done. I am asking you to do the same.
If Hawaii passes these bills in to law, your state could be next.

The petition can be found and signed here, Health Petition: Stop Hawaii bills HB2557 and SB2819 from being signed into law! | Change.org



Here are the two bills being petitioned.

1. Measure Status
2. Measure Status

On the right side of these two pages are links to the actual Bill which can be read and are in PDF format.


Let's help to spread the word so that the required number of signatures can be reached. If you have a Twitter account, you can Tweet this post directly from here using the link at the top of the post, or by clicking on Thread tools you can tweet the whole thread. In order to do this, you must be a registered user, and have integrated your twitter account via your usercp.

Also, post the link to your facebook page, and any other website you may have.

[mcquinn]

70 %? I would move from any place that charges 70 % on anything.

[Jim Davis]

We all knew this was coming sooner or later. Looks like it's time to stock up again. What comes to my mind, is how can they tax them like tobacco, when the FDA hasn't approved them?

[Royal]

Apparently the 70% tax is what Hawaii currently charges for conventional tobacco cigarettes.

Just imagine what e-cigs will cost when the Feds get around to taxing them like this as well. Let's not forget the PACT act either.

Since e-cigs were declared a tobacco product, the way I see it, the FDA has to accept them as they are, just like they did when they placed tobacco under FDA regulation.

[lordmage]

both of which are not scheduled for a hearing. me thinks they are either gonna sneak it thur or table it till after elections

[PTJD]

Yep, we all knew it would come to this.

[mcquinn]

Still can't get over 70 % tax in America.

[Royal]

This last correspondence I recieved asked me to submit my testimony to the state of Hawaii. Thought it would be a good idea to share this with everyone.

Aloha ESF,

Please visit this website and click the blue button on the top left to register and then leave a testimonial PETITIONING THE PROPOSED 70% tax on all electronic cigarette products. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT ALL OF YOU and OUR customers. Anyone living in the USA can submit one. This testimonial is more important than the petition I sent an email about recently as this testimonial goes directly to the courts where your voice can be heard. If you do not live in Hawaii, please include in your testimonial, that you will not be visiting Hawaii because of the proposed bill. They hate to hear that

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2819

Charging a tax on our batteries or drip tips is as crazy as charging a tobacco tax on rolling papers and lighters. Please post this link to you sites and forums and spread the word through your own personal network about this link. We will be in court next wednesday with all your testimonials so all your help is greatly appreciated. Please email us if you have any questions or know any way to spread the word even further. Mahalo!

[Shadow Vaper]

We have vacationed in Hawaii a couple of times in our lives. Two of the most expensive vacations we have ever taken. Last time we rented a place with a kitchen. Went grocery shopping and was shocked when we checked out. Sure I understand that most foods and items are shipped in. Just makes me wonder what the average household income is for those who live there. Surely if you can afford $7 per gallon milk, you can afford to pay double for your e-cigs. Not saying it is fair, Just sayin'.

[Royal]

Good news for our fellow e-Smokers, especially those in Hawaii, I just got an updated email pertaining to this Hawaii e-cig tax issue.

Aloha ESF, Thank you to whom it may concern for your efforts and work in helping us oppose the proposed 70% tobacco tax on electronic cigarettes in the state of Hawaii. The Senate had received more than 1,200 pieces of testimony on the issue and decided last friday to ENFORCE the part of the bill that restricted the use of ecigs to persons under 18 years of age BUT they amended the entire part that would tax the product. This is a huge win and we just wanted to let you know and thank you for your support. Mahalo.