Tag: Georgia

  • Georgia House Welcomes ‘False’ Registry Comments

    Georgia House Welcomes ‘False’ Registry Comments

    Credit: Hafakot

    Earlier this year, the Georgia legislature adjourned before the Senate could consider House Bill 1260, also known as the Georgia Nicotine Vapor Products Directory Act. If passed, the bill would have established a registry for vape products that had premarket tobacco product applications (PMTA) either authorized or under consideration by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Manufacturers would add their products to the registry voluntarily.

    According to reporting by Filter, legislators formed the Safety & Consumer Protection of Nicotine Vapor Products Study Committee in March. At the committee meetings held September 5 and September 9, law enforcement officers and school administrators took turns giving wildly inaccurate testimony about how United States teenagers are being killed off en masse by unregulated, disposable flavored vapes imported from China.

    The September 9 meeting featured a slideshow titled Flavored Disposable Vape–The New Face of Organized Crime, describing how the epidemic was leading children down a path toward transnational drug trafficking. It was kept off-camera during the livestream, due to apparently containing top-secret law enforcement intelligence.

    “Again, everything’s Chinese, from China. What else is China bringing into the United States?” asked copresenter Carlos Sandoval. “Methamphetamine. Cocaine. Vapes is another new product, it’s opening another door for organized crime and cartels.”

    Despite the fact that the both study committee and the tabled bill are purportedly about nicotine vapor products, the committee appeared to be about equally preoccupied with THC. Both were described as “highly addictive” and “silent killers,” often interchangeably.

    One former principal testified that one of the only interventions she’d found helpful to prevent vaping in her school was a “rewards program” that used a school communications platform to apparently place small bounties on students who vaped.

    “A student could go on there and turn in someone who was vaping in the bathroom,” she said, “and if we were able to prove it they would receive a $25 gift certificate. We called it ‘Snitches Get Riches.’”

  • Georgia Seeking to Create Vape Safety Committee

    Georgia Seeking to Create Vape Safety Committee

    Local legislators in Georgia are sponsoring a Georgia House resolution that would create a new study committee on the safety and consumer protection of nicotine vapor products.

    “Within the nicotine vapor product industry there is no current directory of products that have been vetted and approved by the (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration for consumer safety and consumption,” the text of the resolution reads. “Further study needs to be had on the consumer safety of refillable liquid vapor products that are produced from the small businesses within the nicotine vapor product industry.”

    The resolution was introduced to the Georgia General Assembly on Feb. 27, according to media reports.

    “A study is needed to develop potential legislation or other action that would help prevent incidents leading to consumer harm or injuries in the nicotine vapor industry and protect the health and safety of those consuming the products,” the resolution continues.

    The proposed House study committee would be made up of five Georgia House members appointed by the speaker of the House.

    “In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution,” the text reads. “No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.”

    Per the resolution, the proposed committee would officially disband on Dec. 1. “Until such products from small business manufacturers are adequately regulated by the federal government, it is important to study all of the issues surrounding electronic cigarettes, e-liquids and other nicotine vapor products while at the same time encouraging economic development in this state,” the resolution text reads.

  • Georgia Lawmaker Introduces Vaping Registry Bill

    Georgia Lawmaker Introduces Vaping Registry Bill

    Credit: VFHNB12

    A Georgia lawmaker is seeking for the state to create a registry of vape products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    The goal is to let retailers and consumers know what’s legal and what’s not. The bill was introduced in committee.

    Lawmaker Houston Gaines showed several examples of vape products that are illegal. Media reports also state that if you check on the back, they say, “Made in China.” Nearly all vaping hardware products, legal or otherwise, are produced in China.

    The FDA does not approve them, so Gaines said Georgia shouldn’t either. The FDA does not approve vaping products for sale; it only authorizes them.

    The state agriculture department would maintain and publish the list. Any product not on that list could not be sold legally in the state of Georgia.

    At a Monday afternoon committee hearing, there were so many people that the committee chairman agreed to hold a second one so everyone could have their say, and some pushed back hard.

    One of those who got their say Monday was vape store owner Dillon Gilbert, who insists this bill will destroy their industry.

    “I own vape stores in Savannah and Columbus,” Gilbert said. “We want common sense regulation, but unfortunately, this bill is a death blow to our industry.”

    But Gaines insists the bill will help keep vape products laced with fentanyl or THC off the shelves. No nicotine vaping product has ever been found to be laced with fentanyl. The GFDA does not regulate THC products.

    Under the bill, any store caught selling these unapproved vape products could face serious fines and possible suspension of their licenses.

    Louisiana’s passed a law that bans retailers from selling vape products not listed on a state-approved registry, known as the V.A.P.E. Directory. Alabama and Florida use the same list. Nebraska is also seeking to pass a bill to create a vape registry in the state.

  • Georgia Public Vaping Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

    Georgia Public Vaping Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

    Credit: Sharafmaksumov

    Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Georgia gave final passage Tuesday to a bill that would restrict vaping in public spaces.

    The state House voted 152-14 to pass Senate Bill 47, which would regulate vaping in the same way the state already regulates smoking. The bill goes to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto, according to Fox News.

    Georgia’s 2005 Smoke-Free Air Act says that people can’t smoke indoors in many public places, although it excludes some places including tobacco stores, bars that only admit patrons older than 18, and privately owned convention rooms.

    A person who violates the law commits a misdemeanor and can be fined $100 to $500.

  • Georgia Moves to Ban Vaping in Public Spaces

    Georgia Moves to Ban Vaping in Public Spaces

    Credit: Sharafmaksumov

    Senators in the U.S. state of Georgia are moving to restrict vaping in public spaces.

    The state Senate voted 51-3 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 47, which would regulate vaping in the same way the state already regulates smoking. The measure moves to the House for further debate, reports Fox News.

    Georgia’s 2005 Smoke-Free Air Act says that people can’t smoke indoors in many public places, although it excludes some places including tobacco stores, bars that only admit patrons older than 18, and privately owned convention rooms.

    A person who violates the law commits a misdemeanor and can be fined $100 to $500.

    Last week, a bill was introduced in Georgia’s General Assembly that would raise the state tax on vaping and other tobacco products and use the proceeds to improve health care.

  • Georgia to Vote on Two Bills That Include Vaping Tax

    Georgia to Vote on Two Bills That Include Vaping Tax

    Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. (Credit: F11 Photo)

    A bill in the General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia would raise the state tax on vaping and other tobacco products and use the proceeds to improve health care.

    Introduced by House Representative Ron Stephens, two bills in the contention could make the tax possible, according to 13WAMZ.

    House bills 191 and 192 have the same language but their numbers are different. Bill 191 states a $0.57 tax per pack of 20 cigarettes and a $0.05 per fluid milliliter for vapor products in a closed system. For an open system, it would be a 7% tax on the wholesale cost price.

    Bill 192 states a $0.37 tax per pack of 20 cigarettes and a 15% on vapor products at the wholesale cost.

    Shabbir Hussain is a smoker himself and says using the money to help fund Georgia’s healthcare programs is a good thing.

    “And $0.20 is not something people would worry about, and if that would benefit the health system, they should go for it,” Hussain said.

    Last month, House Speaker Jon Burns said he was open to another healthcare proposal that has gone nowhere in the past – raising the state’s tax on tobacco products.

  • Georgia Ready to Consider Raising Tobacco Taxes

    Georgia Ready to Consider Raising Tobacco Taxes

    Credit: Vepar5

    In the United States, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns said he was open to another healthcare proposal that has gone nowhere in the past – raising the state’s tax on tobacco products.

    Georgia has the second lowest tobacco tax rate in the country.

    “That’s one of the areas we’ll look at,” he said, reports WABE.

    Burns has restructured the House committees in a way meant to encourage lawmakers to dig into complex healthcare issues, and he says a possible tobacco tax increase is an example of a healthcare policy that could bubble up from the committees.

  • Georgia Judge Stalling District Attorney’s Delta-8 Ban

    Georgia Judge Stalling District Attorney’s Delta-8 Ban

    A Georgia judge has halted efforts by a suburban Atlanta prosecutor to enforce a ban on some cannabis extracts, in a case that could set a statewide precedent, according to the Associated Press.

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall on Friday issued a 30-day order restraining Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gaston from prosecuting people for selling or possessing the extracts.

    “I have concerns that this may or may not be a rogue DA,” Schwall said. “I think there may be some prosecutorial priorities misplaced.”

    The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by two owners of Gwinnett County vaping stores seeking to have two extracts — delta-8 and delta-10 THC — declared legal in Georgia. The chemicals are similar to the main intoxicating ingredient in marijuana but cause milder highs. They are typically sold in vape cartridges, tinctures, gummies and other edibles.

    Other states are also wrangling with the substances’ murky legality.

  • More States Set Sights on Synthetic Nicotine Sales

    More States Set Sights on Synthetic Nicotine Sales

    Georgia, Maryland and Mississippi legislators recently introduced bills in their respective states that would only allow the sale of vapor products that are authorized by or pending authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a Filter article.

    Credit: Billion Photos

    The pieces of legislation would also establish directories to inventory authorized vapor products, which would eventually be made public. On the surface, these bills look like they are reiterating what the FDA is already doing through its premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process, through which the FDA has denied millions of products. However, many have noted that the bills serve as a roundabout way to ban synthetic nicotine.

    Many manufacturers have turned to synthetic nicotine as a way to continue selling their products since synthetic nicotine is not currently regulated.  

    “The elected officials sponsoring these bills may be under the mistaken impression that their proposals are only targeted at illicit and counterfeit dealers,” Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, told Filter. “The reality is that these bills would shut down licensed small businesses that are operating in full compliance with federal, state and local laws.”

    The Republican lawmakers who introduced the bills—Maryland State Senator JB Jennings, Georgia State Senator Jeff Mullis and Mississippi Representative Nick Bain—have all received campaign funds ranging from $500 to $4,800 from Juul Labs, according to Filter. Some feel that Juul and other large companies want to see synthetic nicotine (and competition) diminished.

    “To preserve the harm reduction opportunity for adult smokers, Juul Labs supports a fully regulated, science-based marketplace,” a Juul spokesperson said. “Illegally marketed and illicit products and products designed to evade federal and state oversight undermine harm reduction and a responsible e-vapor category.”

  • Georgia Bill to Prevent Youth Vaping Signed Into Law

    Georgia Bill to Prevent Youth Vaping Signed Into Law

    Possession of a vaping device in the U.S. state of Georgia if under the age of 21 is now a criminal offense. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law today.

    Also, much like traditional tobacco products in the state, an excise tax will be placed on vaping products, which is expected to generate approximately $4.3 billion each year.

    House Bill 375 passed overwhelmingly in both the Georgia House and Senate.

    The new law will make it a misdemeanor if someone under the age of 21 is caught with a vaping device, punishable by a fine or community service. When a device is confiscated, it will become the property of the state and be destroyed.