Three Congressional Democrats want State attorneys general to declare vaping products “cigarettes.”
Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, issued the following statement:
“These representatives are asking state attorneys general to violate both the Constitution and their own state laws. State attorneys general have no power to force e-cigarette companies to become parties to a voluntary agreement.
“This is just plain silly. E-cigarettes clearly do not fit the definition of a ‘cigarette’ under the MSA. E-cigarettes did not even exist at the time the MSA was signed.
“Even ignoring the legal flaws, capturing e-cigarettes under the MSA would be the wrong thing to do. Deceptive, fraudulent, and costly behaviors by cigarette companies were the impetus for the MSA. Vapor product companies are guilty of none of the cigarette industry’s past sins.
“For much of his decades-long tenure in Congress, Rep. Waxman has been known for fighting against cigarette companies. It’s sad that one of his last acts as a Congressman is to push rules that would actually protect cigarette company revenues.”