Missouri Vape Law a Gateway to Big Tobacco Monopoly
Missouri has taken "show-me" approach to innovation with a proposed law that will allow Big Tobacco to snuff out vaping. Your business and lives of your customers may be at stake. Missouri HB 276 – Vapor Product Registry is a disastrous example of state governments being deputized to enforce failed federal regulations.
Missouri HB276
Missouri lawmakers are considering HB 276, a bill that would create a vapor products registry, requiring manufacturers to:
✅ Have an FDA marketing granted order or
✅ Certify that their product was on the market before August 8, 2016, applied for a PMTA by September 9, 2020, and has not received a final decision from the FDA.
This bill has been crafted to benefit the tobacco industry in three ways.
- Big Tobacco's obsolete e-cigarette products were on the market by the summer of 2016.
- The small number of products approved by the FDA are manufactured by the tobacco industry.
- Vaping restrictions have been shown to increase cigarette sales.
Business Owners Must Reject HB 276
Most business owners are aware of the capricious and arbitrary regulations, which is specifically how the 5th Circuit described the FDA's vaping approval process. This case is currently being judged by the Supreme Court.
This is more than a case of just job killing regulations, as businesses will no longer be able to sell their vaping products to adult consumers. Keep in mind that underage vaping has hit 10-year lows and there is no necessity for a moral panic. This law is a case of dollars and cents. The independent vaping industry is cutting into Big Tobacco's bottom line.
HB276 Enforces FDA’s Flawed Process at the State Level
✅ The FDA has already failed to process millions of PMTAs fairly and transparently. Many companies that complied with federal regulations are still waiting for decisions, yet Missouri wants to enforce this broken system.
✅ State governments should not be acting as enforcers of the FDA’s inconsistent and arbitrary decisions.
Consumer & Business Impact Will Kill Jobs...Or Worse!
✅ Thousands of adult vapers will lose access to products they rely on as alternatives to smoking.
✅ Small businesses and vape shops will be forced to close due to a de facto ban on many products, leading to job losses and economic harm.
✅ Creates a monopoly for Big Tobacco, which has the resources to navigate federal regulatory hurdles, unlike independent vape manufacturers.
Science Supports Vaping
📌 Research shows that nicotine vaping is 98-99% less harmful than smoking. 📌 Studies confirm vaping is more effective for quitting smoking than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
📌 The UK and other nations actively encourage switching to vaping as part of their public health strategy.
💬 Talking Points for Lawmakers
Use these points when contacting your representatives:
📌 "I oppose HB 276 because it unfairly restricts access to alternative tobacco products and forces Missouri to enforce FDA’s broken regulatory process."
📌 "This bill will put Missouri’s small vape businesses out of business while protecting Big Tobacco’s monopoly."
📌 "State governments should not act as enforcers of federal agencies, especially when their decisions are tyrannical and scientifically flawed."
📌 "Vaping has helped millions of adults. Don’t make it harder for Missouri residents to choose better alternatives."
📞 Take Action Now!
📧 Contact your Missouri state representatives and urge them to vote NO on HB 276.
🔄 Share this information with fellow advocates, business owners, and consumers.
📅 Stay informed on legislative updates and hearings.
You can find your elected officials using VTA’s Action Center.
Missouri should be protecting harm reduction and consumer choice, not enforcing unnecessary restrictions. 🚨 Act now to stop HB 276!
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.