Florida passes scaled-down vape bill

Florida this week approved a scaled-down bill targeting vaping products for children. The bill sets the stage for Attorney General Ashley Moody to take action against illegal vape manufacturers and sellers.

The vape bill (HB 1007) passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.

And, it got passed the House overwhelmingly on Thursday. Now, it is ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Sen. Keith Perry said the bill targets disposable vapes. This is a significant change from previous plans.

"It’s still a really good bill,” Perry said in an interview Friday. “The attorney general, kind of through things she has to prove, can determine that they’re marketing towards children. Then she can regulate those (products) and take those off the market. That’s really where the problem has been, anyway. We’re not concerned with adults that vape. That’s their decision."

Earlier, lawmakers considered a proposal that would severely limit what can be sold.

Under early plans, about 20 products sold by Juul Labs and other tobacco company affiliates are regarded as legal. However, the measure triggered an outcry from many vape dealers. They believed the plan would drive small businesses across the state out of business. This week's changes will allow a register of banned products to be set up following an administrative process. "We are grateful that the Legislature listened to the concerns of all of us who traveled to Tallahassee to share our views throughout the committee process." Nick Orlando, president of the Florida Smoke-Free Association, said in a statement Friday.

Perry claims that when Juul and other companies stopped producing disposable vapes, Chinese vape companies took over production. Over the past few years, Juul has agreed to pay nearly $3 billion to resolve lawsuits with states for allegedly luring children into buying addictive nicotine products. Last October, Moody's office filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Circuit Court. It accuses Juul, the vape company of inappropriate marketing to children.

The case is still pending trial.

News collected by VPFIT, leading vape manufacturer located at Shenzhen, China.