HB2097 Threatens Oklahoma Vapor Products

4/15/2013

Please Act Now!!!

Even though the House Public Health committee rejected

the language of SB 802, it was reintroduced as amendment

to HB 2097, and passed by the Senate less than 24 hours

later, giving Oklahoma electronic cigarette users very little

time to contact their legislators.

We support the ban on the sale of vapor products to minors,

but this bill does much more and would hurt an industry that

is helping thousands of Oklahomans quit smoking.

* Contrary to assertions by the amendments sponsor, the

bill, as amended, would increase taxes on Oklahoma ecigarette

users who don't use disposable models

* Required licensing would increase the cost of e-cigarette

products and lead to the unavailabity of hundreds or

thousands of products

* The bill would make it a criminal act for an e-cigarette user

to buy online without having a license, which would severely

limit access for Oklahomans living in rural areas

*The poor wording and unclear definitions would make

compliance extremely difficult

This bill is being heavily supported by RJ Reynolds and

Lorillard, two of the largest tobacco companies. By forcing

vapor product vendors to be licensed as tobacco retailers

and operate through tobacco channels this bill would give a

definite advantage to tobacco companies that carry

disposable e-cigarettes.

We urge lawmakers to look carefully at the implications of

this bill. We urge voters to contact their representatives and

ask them not to let the tobacco lobbyists convince them to

pass legislation that is bad for Oklahoma small business and

bad for Oklahoma public health.