Hawaii Bill to Ban Flavors, Synthetics Moves Forward
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A bill in Hawaii’s House of Representatives (HB 1570) proposes to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco and synthetic nicotine products. HB 1570 would also prohibit companies from mislabeling e-liquid products as nicotine-free and marketing electronic smoking devices to appeal to anyone under the age of 21.
Retailers who violate the proposed rule would face a $500 fine for a first offense and between $500 and $2,000 for a second violation, according to KITV.
Anyone under the age of 21 in possession of a synthetic nicotine product or electronic smoking device would be fined $10 for a first offense. Any repeats would cost $50 or between 48 and 72 hours of community service.
After Thursday’s hearing, lawmakers advanced and amended the bill to include quarterly meetings between the Department of Health and students across all schools on the matter. Establishing a vape and e-cigarette take-back program at high school and intermediate campuses statewide was also added to the measure.
HB 1570 faces several other hearings and readings in the house.