This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A measure that would've taxed electronic cigarettes and nicotine candies and made their sale to people under the age of 19 a crime failed Monday in the Utah House.
Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, proposed HB372 and said it was aimed at preventing youth from using the candy-like cigarettes by making it a Class C misdemeanor for a tobacco shop to even permit a 19 year old to enter their store. It also would hike the tax on those products.
E-cigarettes are smokeless cigarettes that release a water vapor containing nicotine and a scent that simulates tobacco. Filters can be purchased to change the flavors from anything to apple and strawberry flavors.
But lawmakers who opposed the measure said higher taxes on the product wouldn't be a deterrent to youth using the product. The measure failed 29-44.
— David Montero