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Arizona, like many states, is looking for ways to squeeze more space into its budget. Currently, they have something in the neighborhood of a $1 billion budget deficit to make up for. Like some other states, the rapidly booming vaping industry is looking like a good place grab some quick and easy cash now and in the future.

The tax rate they’re seeking is something close to the state’s tax on tobacco — which is currently $2 per pack. That’s already likely to create some issues given that e-cigs and their components are not often sold in direct tobacco cigarette pack applicable quantities.

Although state financiers claim the tax could pull in $6 million a year for Arizona, the Associated Press has reported that the actual revenue could be as little as $284,000 depending on the tax rate and actual sales.

But what’s a bit surprising about this is that a local paper in Arizona, the News-Herald published an editor’s opinion piece calling the tax a hasty money grab. From the article:

As it stands, the proposed e-cigarette tax is a money grab, pure and simple, with no additional value to society.

The editors mention the wildly misleading study from Japan which claims e-cigs possess 10 times the carcinogens of tobacco cigarettes. However, they go on to say that the jury is still out on e-cigs — which for once is refreshing to see given the study they did highlight. They even go on to argue that a “sin tax” on e-cigs can’t yet be justified and may simply prevent some smokers from quitting with the help these new devices.

It’s rare to see a media outlet — especially a local-level one — take a stance on electronic cigarettes that goes against the alarmist hysteria we’re all used to hearing. “Something is going to kill you” almost always gets more eyes and attention than “Let’s be reasonable.” This is exactly why the misleading statements about the study from Japan are getting so much coverage despite being very easy to clarify and correct.