Bill SB2654, would add a minimum of 70% tax on e-liquids and is a follow-up to a bill that was floated in the state House last session, and its goal is to end online tobacco sales. Technically it makes it illegal to ship tobacco products to anyone who isn’t involved in the sale or distribution of tobacco; this obviously bans any sale to a private individual.
This bill also adds e-liquid to the state’s definition of “tobacco product”, hence vape shops will be considered as “specialty tobacco shops”. Vaping businesses in Hawaii are scared that this bill will decimate the industry.
“We don’t know what it’s going to end up as. We’re strongly opposed to any taxes for our customers and the industry,” said Scott Rasak of Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes last year, adding, “Vapor products and tobacco products are completely different,” Rasak said. “They don’t contain tobacco. There’s no smoke. These are entirely separate products.”
Share your story with your local authorities
Hawaiian vapers are urged to take action by contacting Representative John Mizuno, and letting him know how the implementation of SB2634 would affect them. The contact details are as follows :
Email: Repmizuno@capitol.hawaii.gov
Telephone Number: 808-586-6050
