03/24/2023
Today I sat in on the finance committee meeting to talk about the flavored to***co ban. This ban proposes the ban of flavored v**e, e-liquid, menthol ci******es, flavored ci**rs, wraps, pouch to***co and flavored chew. I am not a ni****ne user but this bill effects us all.
My family business started by selling ci******es out of a cab over van. In 1956 my grandparents acquired the company and built it to what it is today. We have 2 buildings, tens of thousands of products, including over 800+ flavored to***co products. We ARE the smallest wholesalers in Vermont and we alone paid the State of Vermont $14 million in to***co excise tax (92% tax rate) $8 million of which was from flavored to***co. That is not including the 6% sales tax from the retailers adding on 1% Town option tax. The sales we are going to lose as a company, as well as all our customers are really going to compromise business!!! The loss of sales will only force many companies to reconfigure their budgets ultimately ended in job cuts and maybe even store closures.
I understand this bill is put in place because of v**es in schools, but NO ONE under 21 should be allowed to purchase said items. The Vermont DLC does a fantastic job of sting operations and trainings for businesses.
This is the State of Vermont taking away your rights to choose!!
If this bill passes, we estimate the State will lose about $80 million in excise taxes revenue - I ask you WHERE WILL THET GET THIS MONEY NOW?? And will this stop you from getting your flavored to***co? Or will you just go to bordering New Hampshire where it is legal - while you’re there save your VT sales tax and get your gas and other grocery items! We will have EMPTY stores on every corner!!
Make your voice heard and email your senators!!!
Ps. Massachusetts passed this law in 2020 and just came forward saying they lost over $120 million in tax revenue and their smoking percentage went down 0.5%
Vermont lawmakers are once again trying to ban the sale of all flavored to***co products, including menthol. But there are continued concerns about the potential loss of millions of dollars in tax revenue from the products.