May 18, 2026

Green signs measure to combat youth vaping

0
health-clipart-8

HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green signed into a law Tuesday an act that establishes the offense of unlawful shipment of tobacco products and includes vaping products under the definition of “tobacco products” for the purposes of the existing cigarette and tobacco tax law.


What You Need To Know

  • Supporters say the new law is a necessary step in addressing a worldwide epidemic of youth vaping
    • In addition to establishing the new unlawful shipment offense and defining vaping products as tobacco products, the new Act 62 amends the license and permit fees for wholesalers, dealers and retailers and imposes an excise tax on each electronic smoking device or e-liquid sold, used or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer
    • It also repeals the electronic smoking device retailer registration unit under the Department of the Attorney General
  • Rep. Scot Matayoshi, chair of the House Committee on Labor and Government Operations, called the measure a “step in the right direction” in the effort to curb the problem of youth vaping

“This legislation has been years in the making, and I applaud the Department of Health and all the advocates, including youth advocates, who have successfully stewarded this to fruition,” said Green. “This new law is going to improve the health of our young people and will prevent damaging addiction to nicotine for many, many of our keiki. That said, I know we all have more work to do in addressing vaping in our society, especially in our youth culture. I know that the Health Department and my former colleagues in the Senate and House are going to stay focused on this as part of their ongoing efforts for the health and safety of the people of Hawaii.”

FULL STORY

What do you feel about this?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check these out