Dear RMSFA Store Owner, Manager, and Vaping Ally,
The first Colorado State Senate committee hearing about a vaping flavor ban bill will occur on February 8, 2024 at approximately 10:00am, MT.
We need your help to testify in opposition! You can testify in-person or by Zoom.
We also need you to forward this email to your vape store’s email list.
Colorado State Senator Kyle Mullica (who is also a nurse and a strong opponent to adult vaping) introduced a vaping flavor ban bill in the Colorado State Senate.
The bill number is Senate Bill (SB) 24-022.
The link to the legislation is below. The bill is also attached in a PDF version.
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-022
The legislation has been assigned to the Colorado State Senate Local Government and Housing committee for February 8, 2024 upon adjournment from the State Senate morning calendar. Adjournment is usually around 10:00am this time of year.
How to Testify in Committee
We need your help to testify either in-person or by Zoom with your opposition to this legislation.
To testify in-person, arrive at the Colorado Capital at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver on February 8, 2024 at 10:00am. Go to the third floor and room 352. You will be allowed to speak for two to three minutes. Below are some talking points for your review.
Parking is available on the street for free within a few blocks of the Capital or you can pay for parking at the parking lot across the street from the Capital.
To testify online and by Zoom, visit:
https://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/signIn.xsp
- Choose “remotely by Zoom”.
- Then choose “by sponsor and bill”.
- Then select sponsor “Mullica”, meeting date and time “2/08/2024 upon adjournment”, and “Senate Bill 24-022”.
- Enter your contact information and “opposition”
Contact State Senators Before Committee Testimony
Below is the contact information for the seven State Senate Local Government and Housing committee members.
Please contact these seven State Senators by both email and phone calls to voice your strong opposition to the legislation.
Suggested talking points are below.
Additionally, the RMSFA is teaming up with its allies, including a public relations firm and additional lobbyists, to defeat this bill.
Please contact Joe Miklosi, Consultant to the RMSFA, at 303-919-4748 or joe@joemiklosi.com with any questions.
Thanks!
Talking Points and Contact Information for Seven Colorado State Senators on State Senate Local Government and Housing Committee
State Senator and Committee Chairman Tony Exum
Party Affiliation and District: Democrat & El Paso County.
Work: 303-866-6364
Email: tony.exum.senate@coleg.gov
State Senator and Committee Vice-Chairwoman Julie Gonzalez
Party Affiliation and District: Democrat & Denver.
Work: 303-866-4862
Email: julie.gonzales.senate@coleg.gov
State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis
Party Affiliation and District: Democrat & Boulder.
Work: 303-866-5291
Email: sonya.jaquez.lewis.senate@coleg.gov
State Senator Byron Pelton
Party Affiliation and District: Republican & eastern plains of Colorado (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, and Yuma Counties).
Work: 303-866-6360
Email: byron.pelton.senate@coleg.gov
State Senator Rod Pelton
Party Affiliation and District: Republican and eastern plains of Colorado (Baca
Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, El Paso, Elbert, Huerfano, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Las Animas
Lincoln, Otero, Prowers).
Work: 303-866-4884
Email: rod.pelton.senate@coleg.gov
State Senator Janice Rich
Party Affiliation and District: Republican & Delta and Mesa Counties.
Work: 303-866-3077
Email: janicerichsd7@gmail.com
State Senator Faith Winter
Party Affiliation and District: Democrat & Jefferson County.
Work: 303-866-4863
Email: faith.winter.senate@coleg.gov
Dear State Senator:
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado.
I’m writing in strong opposition to SB24-022, the vaping flavor ban legislation. SB 22 will be heard in the Senate Local Government and Housing committee in the near future.
There are multiple reasons why this ill-conceived legislation will do more harm than good.
First, this topic should be a state issue, not a local government issue. We need uniformity in vaping public policy laws. Many small vape store owners have stores in multiple counties. The business community needs stability and consistency from the government. SB 22 will create confusion for the small business community.
Second, prohibition never works. There are over 100 years of peer reviewed and public policy best practices to prove that prohibition is non-effective, creates underground markets that do more harm, and reduces product quality.
Third, vaping flavor bans increase youth cigarette use. The highly respected Yale University School of Public Health and multiple other research institutions have clearly demonstrated that when cities or states ban flavored vaping products, youth cigarette smoking increases.
Fourth, SB24-22 will remove a proven adult cessation tool from the market. According to the FDA, nearly seven million responsible adults (and growing daily) use flavored vaping products to quit smoking deadly combustible cigarettes. A single cigarette contains over 90 cancerous agents that kill 480,000 Americans annually. Vaping products do not contain charcoal or tar or other deadly components.
Fifth, there are major differences between Responsible Small Vape Shops and Irresponsible Big Tobacco. For example, the approximately 200 small vape shops in Colorado sell 50% less nicotine than Big Tobacco. Small Vape shops also have strict ID checks, only allow customers who are 21 years of age or older to enter the store, do not market to consumers, and have numerous other youth prevention systems and processes to prevent youth from obtaining vaping products.
Sixth, SB24-22 will bankrupt my business. States such as New York and Colorado municipalities, including Boulder and Glenwood Springs, that passed vaping flavor bans, bankrupted businesses, laid off employees, and destroyed lives.
During the last four years, nearly 45 Colorado municipalities have passed common sense protections and laws that reduce youth vaping access while still allowing responsible adults to use flavor vaping products to stay alive and to quit smoking more harmful cigarettes. Additionally, the federal government and state Government of Colorado have passed over a dozen laws, regulations, and tax increases to reduce youth vaping percentages.
The laws and policies are working. Youth vaping has been reducing for four consecutive years!
Can we schedule a time to discuss this issue at greater length?
You have the power to put me out of business. We have suggestions and proven public policy best practices to both reduce youth use and allow responsible adults to use flavored vaping products to quit smoking deadly cigarettes.
Thanks again for your service to the people of Colorado. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Insert First and Last Name
Store
Address
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