From the Kansas Health Institute:
Issue brief #3 in a series of three on e-cigarettes.
Despite a sharp rise in the use of e-cigarettes and unanswered questions about their potential health effects, there is currently little regulation at the state or federal levels of their sales and marketing. While Kansas and other states explore various approaches to regulation, some Kansas communities have taken action to limit their use in public places. The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) has released the third and final issue brief in the series on e-cigarettes, entitled, E-Cigarette Policy, Regulation and Marketing.
In 2012, Kansas state legislators enacted a ban on the sale to and possession of e-cigarettes by minors (48 other states and the District of Columbia have done the same). In 2015, Kansas policymakers approved a sales tax on e-cigarettes at the rate of $0.20/milliliter of e-liquid (HB 2109), which goes into effect July 1, 2016.
Health advocates have stressed the need for regulatory action regarding the marketing and advertising of e-cigarettes, especially advertising to youth. The marketing strategy for e-cigarettes is felt by many public health experts to resemble the traditional cigarette marketing of the past, which was designed to appeal to youth. In 2012, manufacturers spent $18.3 million on advertising, up from $6.4 million in 2011, and that amount has certainly increased since then.
This series on e-cigarettes includes three briefs:
- Issue Brief #1: E-Cigarettes and Their Use in the U.S. and Kansas
- Issue Brief #2: Health Effects of E-Cigarettes
- Issue Brief #3: E-Cigarette Policy, Regulation and Marketing
The Kansas Health Institute delivers credible information and research enabling policy leaders to make informed health policy decisions that enhance their effectiveness as champions for a healthier Kansas. The Kansas Health Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy and research organization based in Topeka, established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.