Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2026 budget proposal includes a new 30% tax on vape products, which could significantly impact the vaping industry in Michigan. The proposal also seeks to prohibit the sale of vaping products not authorized by the FDA, limiting flavored nicotine to only tobacco and menthol flavors. Other flavors would be considered contraband under state law.
Jim McCarthy, spokesman for American Vapor Manufacturers, argues that this proposal could harm small businesses selling vapes and nicotine in local neighborhoods. He emphasizes that many people use vaping as a means to quit smoking tobacco and may not want products that taste and smell like the substance they’re trying to quit.
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance supports the allocation of 50% of the new revenue to smoking prevention, cancer prevention, and youth public health programs. They stress the importance of protecting Michigan kids from accessing kid-friendly tobacco products, such as cotton candy and bubble gum e-cigarettes, which can deliver massive doses of nicotine.
For the proposal to pass, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer will need to work with the GOP-led House. The article also mentions the intention to investigate what local schools are observing regarding vaping among students.
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