OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A new bill proposed last week would quickly catapult Washington to one of the most-regulated states for electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. Besides applying the state’s 95% tobacco product tax to e-cigarettes, the measure would ban all non-tobacco flavors, ban internet sales, require manufacturers to list all the ingredients in e-liquids and require retailers to obtain a special license to sell vapor products.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle), described the legislation as a “game-changer.”
“Many people, particularly teenagers, are being misled into believing these items are safe,” Pollet told Reuters. “You deserve to know what toxic and carcinogenic chemicals are in e-cigarettes.”
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) program manager Karmen Hanson added, “It's an all-in-one piece of legislation."
But not everyone’s supportive of this all-inclusive measure; hundreds of vapers and e-vapor retailers showed up to testify against the bill during a public hearing last week. Former smokers told KING 5 News that e-cigarettes provided a “life-changing intervention” while retailers feared the proposal would deter smokers from making the switch due to the higher cost and lack of flavor options currently popular with adults.
"There is one (flavor) that actually has bubble gum in it. It's the number one seller in the store," said vape shop owner Andy Kibler, who noted he does not sell to anyone under 18.
Though he’s not opposed to getting a special license to sell e-vapor products, Kibler said the 95% tax and flavor ban would likely shut down his business.
"It really seems like … an atom bomb approach to something that could be done with a little more finesse," he said.
Washington's assembly will likely vote on the bill in the coming weeks. If it passes in the assembly, the measure will move on to the Republican-led Senate.
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