Author: moonswamp
Oregon lawmakers are once again considering a bill that would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state. Senate Bill 702, currently awaiting a work session in the Senate Committee of Early Childhood Behavioral Health, aims to prohibit the sale of vapes with fruity and candy flavors, herb and spice flavors in dips, and even menthol cigarettes. Supporters of the bill argue that tobacco companies target children with these flavored products, attempting to get them hooked on nicotine at a young age. Naomi Robinson, a junior at Lake Oswego High School and a lobbyist for the American…
Tennessee lawmakers are pushing forward with a new vape tax proposal, which has sparked a heated debate between concerns over youth health and the impact on small businesses. The bill, House Bill 0968, passed the Tennessee Senate on Monday and is expected to move to the House on Tuesday for approval. This legislation aims to tackle the rising rates of youth vaping in the state, which are more than twice the national average, according to the Tennessee Health Advisory Commission, with 22% of young people in Tennessee reporting vaping. Health Concerns vs. Business Struggles Senator Ken Yager, one of the…
Mississippi, the pioneering state that sued "Big Tobacco" 31 years ago, is now on the verge of allowing those same companies to dominate its vaping market. The legislature has quietly passed HB916, which limits consumers to purchasing e-cigarettes from only three FDA-authorized manufacturers and bans virtually all flavored vaping products. This move essentially grants Big Tobacco a monopoly over the state's vaping industry under a Biden-era regulation. The 1994 lawsuit against 13 tobacco companies resulted in a $3 billion settlement paid to Mississippi over 25 years, making the current bill's favoritism towards Big Tobacco a striking contrast.
Utah's new law, which includes a flavor ban for vape products and the establishment of a PMTA (Premarket Tobacco Product Application) registry, is now officially in effect. The law will begin being enforced immediately, following a federal judge's decision on Monday to deny a motion that sought to prevent enforcement while the ongoing lawsuit challenging the law continues. This ruling means that the vapor industry plaintiffs can no longer legally sell flavored e-cigarettes or vape products while they await the final legal outcome of their lawsuit. Utah Senate Bill 61: Key Components of the Law The law, known as Senate…
The Tennessee Senate is set to consider a bill that would establish a statewide database for vaping products and sales, potentially generating millions of dollars for the state's general fund. Senate Bill 763, sponsored by Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), aims to regulate the vaping industry by requiring stores to register with the state and imposing taxes on various vapor products. Under the proposed legislation, retailers would be prohibited from selling products that are not registered in the database. Civil penalties for non-compliance range from $500 to $1,500 for retailers and up to $10,000 for manufacturers selling noncompliant products. The bill…
The Russian government has moved forward with a complete ban on online advertising for cigarettes and vapes, reinforcing its stance against the digital promotion and sale of nicotine products. While online retail sales of tobacco and nicotine-containing products are already prohibited by law, illegal trade persists. To combat this issue, a new bill passed its first reading in the State Duma on March 19, proposing stricter monitoring obligations for social media platforms and websites. Under the proposed legislation, social media companies will be required to detect and remove advertisements for cigarettes and vapes proactively. Additionally, websites found violating the regulations…
The Thai government has intensified its efforts to combat the illegal sale of e-cigarettes by blocking more than 9,500 URLs associated with vape sales and smuggling over the past year, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES). The move is part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at shutting down all online sales channels, including social media accounts and websites used to distribute and promote vapes, said Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sasikarn Wattanachan. Widespread Digital Shutdown on Vape-Related Content Between March 2024 and March 19, 2025, the DES ministry successfully blocked a total of 9,515 URLs involved in vape-related…
South Australia is set to implement a new set of stringent laws aimed at cracking down on the illicit trade of tobacco and vape products. The legislation, currently under debate in the state parliament, will impose the highest fines in the nation for individuals and businesses caught engaging in the illegal sale of these products. Under the new laws, police will be granted broader powers, including the use of detection dogs and metal detectors, as well as reduced restrictions on conducting searches. These measures are intended to create a hostile environment for those attempting to open shops selling illegal tobacco…
The debate surrounding the impact of vaping on respiratory health continues to be a topic of intense interest and ongoing research. As the popularity of e-cigarettes has grown in recent years, so too has the need for a clear understanding of their potential risks and benefits, particularly in comparison to traditional cigarettes. While some studies have raised concerns about the presence of harmful chemicals in e-cigarette aerosol and their potential to affect lung function, others have found no significant short- or medium-term impact on respiratory health, and even suggest potential benefits for those who switch from smoking to vaping. The…
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a 32% tax on the wholesale price of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, aiming to improve public health by reducing youth vaping. The proposal has raised concerns among local vape shop owners, who fear the tax could hurt their businesses and drive customers to seek cheaper alternatives online or on the black market. Currently, there is no specific tax on vape products in Michigan, and the proposed tax would make these products more expensive. Governor Whitmer cites the high number of high school students who vape as the reason behind the proposal. Justin Fleeson,…