Beginning July 1st 2022, California will be instituting the California electronic cigarette excise tax or “CECET” on all electronic cigarette devices, accessories, e-juice and disposable nicotine devices. This tax will add an additional 12.5% excise tax to the retail cost of vaping products in the state of California. The State of California already pays among the highest e-cigarette taxes in the country.

This comes from the following legislation authored by State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-SALINAS) and approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate Bill 395 (Stats. 2021, ch. 489) enacted the Healthy Outcomes and Prevention Education (HOPE) Act, which will impose the additional excise tax upon all nicotine-containing vape products.

The tax is intended to help pay for healthcare and education which of course is a positive. Unfortunately the collateral effect of enacting such a high tax will force vape shops to raise prices and possibly force folks to seek possibly fake products online or make homemade vape products which can be harmful and even fatal if not done correctly. 

Californians should have had a say in the matter. Signatures are needed en masse now if we are to put it to vote in November.