Jan2017 Vapor Calls To Action

Jan2017 Vapor Calls To Action

JOIN CASAA. By joining CASAA, you will become plugged into an advocacy network.

Print Flyers for your Vape Shops here-—> Flyer – Do you Like to VapeCasaa Flyer

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Jan2017 CTA

Act on any Vapor Call to Action for your state or local area. Unite to fight for our right to VAPE!

Posted Feb 3rd

Arizona – Take action to oppose a 95% tax on vapor products

  A 95% wholesale tax (SB 1517) on vapor products has been introduced in the Arizona senate. Such an outrageous tax rate is bad for both businesses and consumers. Not to mention the damaging public health consequences of taking smoke-free alternatives away from former smokers. It is vital that you TAKE ACTION by urging your Arizona senator to REJECT SB …

A bill (SB 119) has been introduced that would ban online sales of vapor products in Maryland. Supporters of SB 119 are promoting this as necessary to control youth access to vapor products. But, rather than prevent young people from making purchases, such an extreme regulation will actually limit adult access to vapor products. For those who live in areas …

Posted Jan 4th

The new year is here, but responses to ECigIntelligence’s consumer survey are still needed.

Your participation in this survey will help inform regulators, advocates, and commentators as we all work to build policies that benefit consumers.

If you haven’t already, please take a moment (5 – 10 minutes) to complete the survey.

Click here to take the survey

Thank you!

Alex Clark

CASAA Legislative Coordinator

Posted Jan 4th

2017 State Taxes affecting vapers throughout the country

Posted Dec 8th

Sign the Petition! —->www.atr.org/tell-trump-fire-us-surgeon-general

Fire This man
Fire This man

In a new report by the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, is calling for the inclusion of vapor in smoke-free policies and PRICE AND TAX POLICIES. We, at #notblowingsmoke, consider that a violation of the hippocratic oath he took since it will most certainly encourage youth and adults BOTH to go back to smoking instead of an alternative that has been proven to be, conservatively speaking, 95% safer than smoking. Dr. Murthy’s report ignores years of dramatic reductions in youth cigarette smoking and instead MISLEADS THE PUBLIC into believing that a much less harmful alternative presents “major health risks”. It seems obvious to us that Dr. Murthy has no objections to reversing the years of progress that have been made in curbing the use of combustible cigarettes.

As the nation’s senior public health official his term doesn’t expire until the end of 2018. With President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp” however, we’re calling on Trump to deliver a simple message to Dr. Murthy: YOU’RE FIRED!

Sign the petition by ATR, which will be delivered to the president’s office, asking President Trump to FIRE the Dr. Murthy and REPLACE him with someone who actually CARES about tobacco harm reduction and saving lives. The petition link is in the profile!

Note: NOT Blowing Smoke generally does not support petitions. However, in this case as the administration is in a transitional period (and appointments and seats are still being made) there is no way to direct the messages to specific targets. The petition will be HAND DELIVERED by ATR, though, at some point in the next month. Let’s make this a message that can be heard loud and clear with the new administration.

Posted Nov 7

Lookup your LawMakers before your vote

 

FIVE THINGS TO DO TODAY TO SAVE VAPING

IVapeIVote Crowd Shot

(1)  Send a Message! Support a change to the 2007 “predicate date” which could save the vapor industry from total destruction.

(2)  Join CASAA! It’s easy, it’s free, and we will keep you up to date on information and opportunities to take action to protect your access to vapor products.

(3)  Register To Vote! Millions of vapers, including YOU, have the power to influence government decisions by electing candidates who support vaping!

(4)  Tell your story! Visit CASAA’s Testimonials Project and tell us about your experience with low-risk, smoke-free products like e-cigarettes and snus.

(5)  Support CASAA’s work to promote tobacco harm reduction policies and keep the diverse range of smoke-free alternatives available.

Answer Ron Johnson

Seal-of-Wisconsin

  (Please note: if you live outside of Wisconsin, please follow the directions below to print and send your letter.) Senator Ron Johnson (WI) is taking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to task over the impact of the “deeming rule” on small to medium vapor businesses across the country. Sen. Johnson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental …

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FDA Call to Action: Submit Comments on FDA’s Proposed Regulation of Safety Packaging and Labeling for E-Cigarettes and Dissolvable Smokeless Tobacco

Update August 21, 2015: The comment deadline has been extended to September 30, 2015. DEADLINE for Comment is August 31, 2015 September 30, 2015. I. Background The FDA recently published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting comments on rules about “Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products.” As is obvious from …

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Call to Action! Support HR 2058 which would change the grandfather date for vapor products

The FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015 (HR 2058), introduced by Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, would save the U.S. vapor industry from being decimated by improper regulations by the FDA. This bill would amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to change the grandfather date for “deemed tobacco products.” This change would allow for all vapor products currently …

About CASAA

The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization with an all-volunteer board and a grassroots membership of more than two hundred thousand individuals from all walks of life, and we are growing daily. We are a consumer organization, not a trade association. We are dedicated to ensuring the availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking and to providing smokers and non-smokers alike with honest information about those alternatives so that they can make informed choices.

The timeline includes links to articles, patents, court decisions, and many other resources to give a comprehensive history of this revolutionary alternative to combustible tobacco.

2017 State taxes and Vaping

January 4, 2017
Vapor News and Views

News and views on vapor tax and regulatory issues from across the United States. The best way to stay up to date with what’s happening in Washington and in your state capitol.

Friends,
Hope you all enjoyed the Holidays and caught up on some much needed rest! In this edition of News and Views, I’m going to focus on the threat of new excise taxes in the states. Several weeks ago, I sent you alla map of tax threats and rates in 2016. This week, we take a look at the most significant factor that will contribute to the threat of taxes in the states: budget shortfalls, or as they’re more accurately described: state overspending problems.
And a note to readers. Thank you for all of your helpful feedback since our launch in November. As a result of your suggestions and requests, this will be the one and only 2017 legislative session “deep dive” into an issue as part of the News and Views. For those subscribers who may be interested in more of this type work, ATR will be launching a subscription-based service for vapor businesses, organizations, and interested parties in the coming weeks. Don’t worry though, the free version of the Newsletter isn’t going away! You’ll keep receiving content relevant to developments in the vapor space from across the country and in Washington, D.C.
Shoot me an email at [email protected] to learn more about Vapor News and Views Pro.
Paul Blair
State Affairs Manager
Americans for Tax Reform
State Overspending May Present a Problem for Vapers This Year
It’s Tax (Threat) Season!
As legislative sessions kick off across the country, three-fifths of states face overspending problems, a strong indicator of which states may consider tax hikes. Where the willpower to rein in spending fails, consumers and businesses like you may end up paying the price.
Headed into 2017, seven states have excise taxes for vapor products on the books, with only one (California) yet to take effect. Though enforcement is somewhat unclear, Kansas’s 20 cents per mL tax took effect on January 1.
For a deeper dive into the size of each state’s overspending problem, click here to read “State Overspending May be a Significant Problem for Vapers in 2017.” 
No one factor determines the success or failure of an effort to raise taxes, cut spending, or rein in government. History, however, strongly indicates that where there’s smoke, there may be fire. Where lawmakers are looking for an easy target, they see smokers. And where they see smokers, a few will see vapers too.
Based on a number of factors, here are the tax threat trends and states to watch for:
  • As fell California, so too may Oregon and Washington, which both face significant overspending problems this year and a below average commitment to spending restraint. The domino effect.
  • Low energy costs are great for consumers and horrible for states that rely on high prices for tax revenue. Cigarettes are on the chopping block as a result in Oklahoma and Alaska, which both face significant reoccurring shortfalls. Vapor can always make an entrance in these situations.
  • Indiana has a House speaker who wants to raise the cigarette tax and a new governor who seems less committed to its opposition than VP-elect Mike Pence was last year. Watch for a proposal to raise the cigarette tax and a potential new vapor tax that comes with a “compromise” offer from lawmakers to reform the current state vapor regulation. “Do you want destructive regulations that kill your business or a small tax you can live with?” I can envision them asking. I suspect I’ll be headed back to Indiana soon…
  • It’s biennial budget year in Ohio and the incumbent governor proposed a vapor tax as part of his large tax reform package 2 years ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if another round of income tax cuts were proposed, paired with tax hikes on a number of industries including vapor (cigarette tax went up in ’15).
  • New York is interesting. The state already has the highest cigarette tax in the nation ($4.35 statewide, $5.85 in NYC). I don’t see the cigarette tax going up any time soon (half the state’s cigarettes are smuggled in via black market for God’s sake!) so will a stand alone vapor tax bill rear its ugly head in the midst of growing overspending problems? It’s also now is the state represented by the U.S. Senate Minority leader who has called for recalls of “ticking time bomb” vapor products. There are tax proposals every year… But I don’t think this is going to be the year it happens.
  • The annual “It Looks Like Smoking” crowd shuffling in to justify a wide range of vapor taxes across the country. Budget shortfalls just give proponents another reason to come for your money. This may explain proposals in +10 states this year.
  • Hawaii considers A LOT of tobacco bills every year and was the first state to raise the age to smoke/vape to 21. The state had to make this list.

Check out my recent post for more information, shoot me an email if you think I’m completely wrong, and share this map on Facebook and Twitter for those of your unfortunate friends and colleagues who aren’t yet subscribers!

Numerous States Organizing Early for Legislative Action on Vapor Issues
A few states already have events planned at the capitol.
  • Pennsylvania Capitol Rally II on Monday January 23rd in Harrisburg from 10:00AM-11:30AM. Plan on staying later to meet with your state legislator to advocate for reducing the 40% tax to a more reasonable per mL tax. Additional event details here.
  • Oregon Vape Day at the Capitol on February 7th at 9AM in Salem from 9:00AM-3:00PM. This is not a rally; it’s an opportunity to join a lobbyist for a meeting with your state legislator. Sign up here.

Organizing an event in your state or need suggestions to put something together? Shoot me an email and I’ll see if I can help!

Right to Vape Tour Releases Fourth Episode
The Right to Vape Tour‘s Episode Four was just released and features interviews from myself and Christian Berkey, the CEO and Founder of Johnson Creek Enterprise. Check it out.
The%20Right%20to%20Vape%20Tour%3A%20Episode%20Four
If you think this email was informative please do forward to friends or colleagues who might be interested in Vapor News and Views! They can subscribe by clicking here.
Paul Blair | Americans for Tax Reform | 202-785-0266 | [email protected] | www.atr.org
STAY CONNECTED

Write a Review for AbillionLivesFilm

Write a Review for AbillionLivesFilm

I needed a break.

After going nonstop for two years making (and now having to distribute) the movie, I took some time off to focus on family while I waited for news.

I’m back online now. Here’s an update.

 

International Broadcast Distribution

Great news! Even though we had a hard time at first getting the attention of Hollywood, your vocal support has made an impact.

We just signed a deal with Principal Media for international broadcast distribution. They work with the BBC, Discovery Channel, Fox, and many others!

We’re currently waiting to see if any of the networks are interested (that is not guaranteed), but we’re happy to finally have greater support in Hollywood.

If you can, please leave a review of the movie here on IMDB. Netflix and the other guys are watching.

In the meantime, there are a ton of events scheduled in the new year for those who haven’t seen the movie yet.

 
 
Upcoming Events

30+ events in the US – Dates in January


Liverpool – January 16


Vancouver – January 31
Toronto – January 31
Ottawa – January 31
Calgary – January 31
Halifax – January 31
 

Copenhagen – February 3 (Danish Premiere)

 
Stockholm – February 7 (Swedish Premiere)
 
If you’d like to host a new year’s resolution #ABillionLives event for smokers in the new year,click here.
 
We also have word that things are looking good to bring the movie to continental Europe finally. More word on that soon.
 
 
Global Tour Recap
 

November was a busy month of traveling around the world to protest against what the WHO was doing in India and support the movement in Europe.

It was overwhelming.

We are still going through all the pictures and editing video footage, but here’s “The Movement” video from our global launch events in Toronto, NYC, and Hollywood.

Thanks for being a part of the movement. Because of you we’ve reached politicians, rock stars, movie stars, and hundreds of thousands of people.

We’re working hard this past month on getting the movie ready for home video and streaming.

Stay tuned.

 
– Aaron Biebert
 
 
 
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