Vape Mail is Under Attack (ACT FAST)
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Vape Mail is under attack. This is still a problem folks. Senate Bill 1253 has passed the Senate and will be voted on tomorrow in the House of Representatives. I am not going to beat around the bush here, the bill is disguised to look like they trying to save the kids from getting vape products, but everyone knows what it’s really about… money.
If you aren’t a member of CASAA, you should be. Instead of rambling on about what is at stake here, I will let CASAA tell you below.
You’ve probably heard by now that S. 1253 has already passed the Senate and will now be voted on by the House, maybe as soon as Monday (7/20). If passed, this bill will outlaw vape mail through the US Postal Service and within six months it will be illegal to ship any vapor products via USPS.
What happens to online purchases?
Banning USPS from shipping vapor products will force companies to use private carriers like FedEx and UPS. In addition to these carriers being more expensive than USPS, they also do not deliver mail to all Americans. Private carriers routinely outsource deliveries to USPS in rural areas or neighborhoods they deem “dangerous” in order to cut costs. Removing USPS as an option means that some people will have no way of purchasing vapor products. For everyone else, it means they will pay higher prices and they’ll be forced to break social distancing rules because a signature will be required on delivery. Additionally, private carriers could eventually cave to political pressures and also ban the shipment of vapor products.
Can’t we just purchase in stores instead?
Not all consumers of vapor products have access to brick and mortar stores due to their health, disabilities, or even their location. With the PMTA deadline quickly approaching in September, the selection of products deemed legal by the government will be so small that many stores won’t be able to legally stay open.
Meanwhile, cigarettes will remain the most visible and widely accessible tobacco product in the history of the world.
Why are they doing this?
The supporters of this bill argue that preventing the shipment of vapor products will stop teens from getting their hands on them, and reduce youth usage. What they don’t tell you is that less than 6% of youth report buying vapor products online, according to the CDC’s 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Most young people report getting vapor products and other age-restricted products from friends, family, and informal sources–sources that are about to become much more popular after September.
Not only is S. 1253 a solution in search of a problem; it’s part of the problem!
Act Now because Vape Mail is Under Attack!
