Latest States Pushing Ban’s On E-Cigarette Merchant’s
Although the cause is still not clear for the recent outbreak of serious lung illnesses and deaths after vaping, federal authorities have stated that the investigations into the lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping suggest that e-cigarettes and vaping products containing THC have played a major role in the outbreak.
Because of this, officials in all states have released public warnings this month to urge residents to avoid the use of vaping products or at least exercise caution when using such products. At the moment, only a handful of states have implemented partial or complete bans on e-cigs and vaping. With push back mounting, we expect a large scale closure of e-cigarette merchant accounts coming down the pike.
Here Is A Run Down Of The Latest State E-Cig Legislation
Michigan:
Michigan is the first state that approved regulations for a statewide ban on vaping products and e-cigarettes. The state cut menthol, mint, and sweet flavors from its list of approved vaping products on September 4. Although the ban does not cover tobacco-flavored e-cigs.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stated that she would ban the advertising of any vaping products that use misleading terminology like clean, safe, healthy, etc. The ban is enacted to prevent greedy corporations from getting the youth hooked on nicotine. The emergency ban on vaping products was imposed on September 18 and it will expire in March 2020.
New York:
New York is another state the implemented a statewide ban on most vaping products that feature flavored nicotine. The ban was enacted on September 17, beating the state of Michigan by one day, hence making New York the first state to actually implement the ban on e-cigarettes and vaporized products. However, the sale of menthol-flavored products is not banned for three months under this emergency regulation. The new regulations will be enforced on October 4.
Massachusetts:
Full ban on all vaping devices and products was initiated throughout the state on September 24. This ban is first of its kind in the country because it applies to both retail and online sales of all types of cannabis and nicotine through January 25, 2020. By prohibiting both the sale of nicotine as well as cannabis vape products, Gov. Charlie Baker’s office is seemingly taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach.
Rhode Island:
The executive order of banning the sale of flavored vaping products in the Plantation State was signed recently. It will go into effect on October 2 and will expire in February, lasting four months. However, the ban does not cover unflavored tobacco e-cigs.
California:
Although the sale of vaping products is not prohibited by the state officials, San Francisco restricted all e-cigs from being sold within the city limits. The officials of Golden State however are fighting back with propaganda. On September 16, an executive order was issued that allocated about $23 million for advertising campaign against counterfeit products, underage sales, and the vaping industry in general.
New Jersey:
According to NBC affiliate, senators Joe Vitale and Shirley Turner both introduced bills that would ban the sale of flavored e-cigs. The bills will be introduced in the legislative session next year.
About The Author
Angela De Steffano
Staff writer at High Risk Merchant Account LLC
Angela is a merchant account specialist and heads the marketing team at HRMA-LLC.
