CAUCUS HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR OVERSIGHT OF ILLICIT E-CIGARETTES

Caucus Members came together earlier this week to highlight the need to pass legislation (A9206 / S8559) which would aggressively enforce the state's ban on illegal flavored e-cigarettes.

"By requiring a license, the Department of Tax and Finance will have a comprehensive list of e-cigarette distributors that are doing business in the state. We also propose changing the tax on e-cigarettes from a retail tax to a wholesale excise tax." said Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages.

"Illicit & illegal vapes are becoming a candy flavored gateway for our youth to nicotine addiction & long lasting health conditions..." said Senator Leroy Comrie. "The lack of enforcement on the 2020 ban has made it optimal for dozens of young folks to get hooked on these dangerous products."

"You have the danger of not just teen smoking, but you also have the danger of a completely unregulated substance coming from outside the country, & distributors coming with products and chemicals that we have seen have been detrimental to health." said Assemblymember Kenny Burgos.

"E-cigarettes and vapor products don't just appear in our communities on their own. Someone brings them here to be sold. We're here to send a very clear message to vapor product distributors that if they want to sell their products, they must play by the rules." said Assemblymember John Zaccaro.

"There's many ways to stop this. We just really need to galvanize together, and ensure we put that pressure on the Governor's office that we need oversight & we need enforcement." said Assemblymember Maritza Davila.