HB65 WILL DEVASTATE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS & CONSUMER FREEDOM.
IF PASSED INTO LAW, HB65 WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
Over 1800 Independent and locally owned 21 and over Vape Stores operate in Alabama. If HB65 were to become law, these small businesses which provide millions in tax revenue to local municipalities would be forced to close due to stringent regulations regarding the proposed definition of “e-liquid.” This outcome implies more than just the closure of businesses; it signifies the loss of jobs, community investment, and a crucial service many depend on for safer alternatives to traditional tobacco use.
Additionally, HB65 will jeopardize the availability of tens of thousands of Smoke-Free Alternative products, curbing consumer choice and hampering the strides made in harmful tobacco use reduction, despite the manipulative practices of the tobacco industry.
The language added to this bill attempts to subtly redefine nicotine products, which have already been defined by the Federal Government and the FDA. It introduces terminology that would affect other industries, particularly those dealing with “CBD oil,” “herbal extracts,” and “other substances.” Such an approach could be seen as an attempt to indirectly regulate these industries through the misuse of definitions, potentially overreaching in the control of other markets by using vague terminology.
HB65 IS A BIG TOBACCO BILL UNDER THE GUISE OF HELPING MINORS CURB ACCESS TO VAPING.
Vape Stores self-enforce the 21+ entry requirement. Children are not purchasing vaping products at vape stores. Minors are purchasing dangerous disposables at the local convenience stores next to their schools, yet Vape Stores are being wrongly targeted because the Big Tobacco Lobby wants to control the monopoly in the vaping industry in addition to the cigarette industry. This is wrong and sets a dangerous precedent. Tobacco is mentioned 109 times in HB319 because big tobacco assisted heavily with the writing of this bill.
HB65 IS A WASTE OF PRECIOUS STATE RESOURCES.
WHY IS ALABAMA TRYING TO CREATE ITS OWN VERSION OF THE FDA?
The FDA already regulates and defines what a vaping product is. If the proposed new definition of “e-liquid” which Alabama wishes to create passes, it would add therapeutic, already federal legal and not regulated by the FDA non-nicotine products to the list that ABC is required to inspect but has failed in doing so given the vast amount of unregulated products that still exist
on gas station shelves. Enforcement and regulation of vaping products needs to be left up to the experts at the FDA.
The Breathe Easier Alliance of Alabama (BEAA) has no issue with making vaping products harder to obtain for minors as well as fines placed on merchants for selling vapes to minors. BEAA has no issue with retail licensing or annual fees to sell vapes.
What the BEAA does have a major problem with is the state trying to define what constitutes an “e-liquid” which is clearly defined by the FDA: https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/e- cigarettes-vapes-and-other-electronic-nicotine-delivery-systems-ends
By altering the definition of e-liquid to add CBD, THC, herbal extracts, other substances, and nicotine salts, these nicotine free alternatives that have helped adults successfully reduce their addiction to nicotine dependence would be deemed illegal and subject to confiscation by ABC.
The FDA maintains a robust directory of approved manufacturers and vaping products as is. Alabama is currently the only state in America that has its own list of approved vaping products through the AL Dept of Revenue, most of which are big tobacco owned products.
In conclusion, HB65 a total waste of state resources and a blatant attempt by the big tobacco lobby to monopolize what vaping products are sold in Alabama.
