WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Vaping Association (AVA), a leading advocate for the health benefits of electronic cigarettes, today called on the Missouri state legislature to override Governor Jay Nixon’s decision to veto SB 841, which would ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.

“It’s common sense that e-cigarettes should not be sold to children. So it’s surprising that Governor Nixon would veto a bill that would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaping products to minors,” said Gregory Conley, AVA’s president. “The legislation, which passed overwhelmingly, is nearly identical to e-cigarette minor bans that are already law in 41 states.”

In his veto message, Governor Nixon complained that the legislation didn’t go far enough because it failed to tax e-cigarettes and didn’t ban them where smoking of tobacco is currently prohibited.

“The governor’s views on e-cigarettes are out of step with the rest of the nation. Only two states apply ‘sin’ taxes to e-cigarette sales and only three states define e-cigarette use as ‘smoking.’“ Conley said. “The legislature should reject the pressure tactics of special interest groups like the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association that want to hinder e-cigarettes without justification. These groups have said that unless state legislatures are willing to treat e-cigarettes the same as tobacco, they would oppose other, far more popular legislation such as a ban to minors. They are, in effect, using children as pawns in their war on e-cigarettes. That’s wrong and counterproductive.”

“It’s sad when special interest groups put politics before kids. It’s even sadder when a Governor does too,” Conley added. “Missouri lawmakers should embrace the consensus view that e-cigarette sales should be banned to minors and override Governor Nixon’s veto of SB 841.”

The AVA’s call for the Missouri Legislature to override Gov. Nixon’s veto follows a similar call by the St. Louis, Missouri-based advocacy organization Bistate Regional Advocates for Vaping Education (BRAVE). BRAVE said that Governor Nixon’s veto “endangers the public health in Missouri.”

The AVA urges Missouri e-cigarette businesses to continue to ban sales to minors, as has been their practice. The AVA represents independent manufacturers in the e-cigarette industry, many of which are family owned and operated in the U.S.

Read BRAVE’s statement here: https://www.facebook.com/brave.mo.il/posts/486868224789943

You can learn more about AVA and vaping by visiting the AVA website.