In Williston, North Dakota, vape shops do not need a state license to sell the product. However, that could change as a new proposal has been introduced that would require retail stores to obtain a city license to operate.
In the North Dakota city of 26,977, the popularity of vaping has helped fuel a burgeoning new market because it is completely exempt from the state’s $15 permitting fee for tobacco shops. However, a proposal to add it to Ordinance 1056 was brought to the Willston City Council on Sept. 27.
The ordinance would change current tobacco policy, requiring e-cigarette retailers to apply for a license like regular tobacco store owners. The first notice of the proposed ordinance was released without a regional member present, and the next notice is scheduled for October 25.
The effect of this ordinance comes from two perspectives.
Many people, like Chelsea Bryant, who has consulted anti-smoking programs in several countries, feel that regulating vape shops is a positive step. Since the shops would face legal penalties such as fines for selling products to minors, the Upper Missouri Health District is even hoping that other cities will follow suit and enact such laws, but what impact does this have on vape shops and their customers?
While vape shop owners aren’t overly concerned about the ordinance, they are concerned about what could be called “Measure 4.” If enacted, it would result in a 400 percent tax, and would also require e-liquid stores to register and comply with the bill while changing their ingredients. Shop owners worry that if implemented, it could put a bunch of small local stores out of business, forcing many vapers back to smoking.
The Dark Side of Harsh Regulations
Experts and health organisations have warned of the dangers of over-regulation. While the main concern is that many people who use e-cigarettes as a quitting method will revert to their old habits, there is also the fear that without the products being widely available, consumers will turn to the black market, fuelling smuggling as desperate vapers buy the products from unknown sources and end up with unsafe devices.
This article was published on Vapingpost by Diane Caruana and translated by The Vape Club
