The Root of Taxing and Regulating E-cigarettes

As you have heard, heavy FDA regulations were recently passed in May of 2016. This is going to put many small companies out of businesses due to the hefty cost to register their products with the FDA. And a few states are severely taxing vapor products, up to 40%. This type of regulation and taxing is absurd in providing the government more money for doing nothing, trying to make a profit off small business owners and consumers.

They think they will limit people from vaping by regulating and tax vape products, but most likely vapers will switch back to tobacco cigarettes, which is far more dangerous than vaping. No matter what, they will still make money either way, off vaping taxes or tobacco taxes.

Lower cost, risk reduction, and a wide selection of e-cigarettes are the main reasons why users are switching from traditional cigarettes to vaping. Taxes and regulation will destroy many small businesses, which will drive up prices with less competition and lower the assortments, which will affect consumers in many ways.

We have a strong idea that regulation and taxes have to do with money as big tobacco and pharmaceutical companies are lobbying for this type of tax and regulation. The government is using reasons like “we are trying to protect public health and reduce usages.” But we know that those are not the main reasons, it’s all about the money. There will be no purpose of taxing or regulation if the government does not benefit from it.

I know most of us can agree that research and some type of regulation are needed to have more studies regarding the effects and health risk of e-cigarettes, and preventing vaping products out of the reach of teens and children. Of course, parents should be responsible for their children and it is up to them to provide insights to their children about vaping and the addiction that comes with it. Adults who choose to vape, it’s at their own risk.

To heavily tax vaping products and requiring manufacturers to submit a PTMA application to the FDA costing over 6 digits is just ridiculous. Vaping has helped public health by reducing cigarette usages.

Why are vapers being penalized trying to get a better alternative to cigarettes ? This is supposed to be a free country where adults can choose what to do with their lives without having the government to tell us what to do and making a buck off us.

I do believe some of the intentions are good for some things, but the main reason is always about the MULA! Most vape manufacturers and resellers are small businesses trying to make a decent living providing smokers with a better alternative, without having much money to pay off lobbyists and politicians.

This is shady America where money talks, and to run a business you must pay your dues even if the government does nothing for your business. We are being taxed for everything already, which is understandable for the government to provide goods and services, but increasing unnecessary taxes to consumers who are finding a less harmful alternative for nicotine, and having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to a have the product go through FDA is outrageous and unethical.