LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A bill debated in the Nebraska legislature would impose a 40% sales tax on vape products — something shop owners say would snuff out their business.
“I don’t know of any vape shop that could withstand that kind of tax,” said Dave Jameson, owner of TNT Vapors in Lincoln.
He said shops like his will have no choice but to pass the cost along to customers.
“I mean, if it’s 40%, that takes all the profit out of the business — all of it,” Jameson said. “So prices will go up.”
Jameson started the shop a decade ago after losing his sister to lung cancer.
His sister, who vaped the last year of her life, told him how much she wished those products had been available sooner.
Maybe, he said, it could’ve prevented her from contracting the disease.
Jameson is a former smoker-turned-advocate for vape who said fewer chemicals in vape have made a difference in his overall health.
But medical experts say while vaping may not be as harmful as cigarettes, it does have negative health effects.
Jameson thinks the 10% tax imposed last year is already too high.
He and others worry these types of taxes and bans will discourage regular cigarette smokers from quitting.
Another piece of legislation on the floor intends to outright ban products with flavoring other than tobacco or menthol.
State senators in favor of these bills say they want to prevent children from vaping.
The tax bill, Legislative Bill 712, must first be approved by the Revenue Committee before the full Legislature can vote.
This article was originally published by a www.klkntv.com . Read the Original article here. .