Should E-Cigs Be Taxed Like Other Cigarettes?

SALT LAKE CITY -- A bill is making its way through the Utah House aimed at preventing underage kids from buying electronic cigarettes. But if HB372 were to pass as-is, it would include a tax hike on the cartridges, even on some that don't contain nicotine, according to a KSL 5 News report.

The heart of the debate over HB372 is whether electronic cigarettes are tobacco products or if they are not.

While some agree the bill would make it harder for teens to get their hands on e-cigs, others say the bill will not only prevent teens from buying them, but adults as well, because of an 86% tax hike on the cartridges.

Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Paul Ray, seeks to include language in the bill that would make e-cigarettes and associated products the same as tobacco cigarettes. The debate became speculative because no studies about e-cigs and their origins were produced.

Click here to read the complete report from KSL.