Nixon Vetoes Bill On E-Cigarettes

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed a bill that would have exempted e-cigarettes from some state laws.

The law would have banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and would have subjected e-cigarette companies to local and state sales taxes. However, the law also included language preventing e-cigarettes from being taxed and regulated as a tobacco product.

“This bill appears to be nothing more than a thinly disguised and cynical attempt to exempt e-cigarettes from taxes and regulations protecting public health,” Nixon said in a statement. “The FDA is already moving forward to ban the sale of these products to minors. Until more is known about the health effects of these products, letting tobacco companies off the hook with special loopholes would pose a real threat to Missourians’ health now and in the future.”

The American Cancer Society and a number of other health organizations have voiced opposition to the bill. The American Cancer Society says that e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested and that it’s unclear whether they’re safe.

The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association favors the bill. The organization says many consumers use e-cigarettes and other similar products to reduce their reliance on tobacco products. They say subjecting these companies to stiff tobacco taxes would burden business owners.

The Missouri Department of Revenue assesses taxes on cigarettes at 17 cents per pack of 20 or 21.25 cents per pack of 25. Other tobacco products are taxed at 10 percent of the manufacturer’s invoiced price before any other discounts.