Utah Legislator Targets E-Cigarettes

The state representative is pushing a bill that for tax purposes would categorize e-cigarettes and dissolvable tobacco products as cigarettes.

March 08, 2013

SALT LAKE CITY - A lawmaker in Utah has introduced a bill that would change the tax code to include e-cigarettes and dissolvable tobacco products in the same category as cigarettes, the Associated Press reports. State Rep. Paul Ray??s measure would also mandate those products be sold from a locked cabinet behind the checkout counter.

In addition, the bill would give city or county agencies the ability to impose fines and penalties on any retailer who sells dissolvable tobacco products or electronic cigarettes to customers under age 19. State law currently prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 19, but does not include e-cigarettes and dissolvable tobacco products.

Ray said that changing the tax status on dissolvable tobacco products and e-cigarettes would increase the cost of those products and therefore discourage use among young people. The change in the tax code could generate $1.6 million in annual revenue.

An amended measure sailed through a House committee this week, and will now move on to the entire House. Ray is pushing for House leaders to help bring the bill to a vote before the legislature ends its session on March 14.

Earlier this year, Indiana??s House passed legislation that bans the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, while antismoking groups are pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate e-cigarettes.

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