Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance
Education about consumer electronic vapor technology as a safer alternative to combustible tobacco.
Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance member stores will be collecting unwrapped toys for local children until December 2nd. The toys will be taken to the Marines at Toy Hill at the iHeart Metroplex in Little Rock on December 3rd, 2017.
Visit any of our member stores to drop off your donation and receive a special discount!
Rogue Vapers
Vapor-Riffic
Willy’s Vapor Cafe
Vapor Lounge
Drippers Vape Shop
All vapers in the state of Arkansas should make an effort to attend this Town Hall Meeting with Senator Tom Cotton and Representative French Hill. Our voices will be heard at this crucial time in history for the vapor industry. Cole-Bishop will be voted on when Congress comes back from their break.
Please be at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock on Monday before 2pm.
Discussion points include:
UPDATE: HB1711 (Tobacco 21+ bill) died on House floor today. Several Representatives spoke for it. Final vote was 41Y 30N 5P. AVAA is grateful this bill stopped at this stage. HB1711 had failed, been amended, then passed through the House Rules Committee before ultimately failing today on the House floor. Legislation that lumps vapor products and other harm reduction products with traditional tobacco is very bad for Arkansans. Great job to all those that opposed this legislation.
Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance announces the election of officer positions today, 3/16/17. A majority vote by the 7 board members elected:
Today is one of many first steps in fighting burdensome regulations on the vapor industry and negative misinformation by the media. AVAA continues to update members on upcoming events and news concerning the vapor industry in Arkansas.
Thank you to everyone that came out in support and solidarity last night at Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance’s first meeting on 3/15/17. Your help and interest is greatly appreciated as we move forward! In case you couldn’t make it, or just need a recap of last night’s events, below you will find information covered.
Last night’s meeting covered our immediate needs:
Our next steps are for the board of directors to elect officers, which will happen Thursday 3/16. After our core officers are elected, Articles of Organization can be filed for our 501c. After our license is official within the state of Arkansas, donations can be accepted through our website arkansasvaa.org.
Today marked another small victory for the vapers in the state of Arkansas. HB1711 (T21 legislation), which outlawed tobacco products for anyone under the age of 21, was defeated in the House Rules Committee. The bill lumped traditonal tobacco products with less harmful and life-saving vapor technology, the very thing that the AVAA strives to combat on all fronts. Three representatives for AVAA testified against the bill, while two from the health department and a concerned citizen testified for. Proponents of the bill argued its health benefits and ability to curb youth smoking rates. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance’s stance is to exclude vapor products from the bill to allow former smokers access to products that can help them quit the deadly habit of smoking. Another opportunity still exists for the bill’s sponsor to attempt to run again, which we anticipate will be met with even larger support.
State advocacy leaders gathered at the Arkansas State Capitol on Wednesday, March 8 to testify against HB1711 and SB285. So far, SB285 (amending the AR Clean Indoor Air Act to include vapor products) has failed to gather enough votes to pass the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor. It continues to rear its ugly head on each of the Committee’s daily agendas, so leaders continue to show up. It still has the ability to pass with only 5 “yes” votes. HB1711 (raising the age to purchase tobacco and vapor products to 21) has yet to be heard, and will likely be scheduled again on their next meeting date, Wednesday, March 15.
Proposals to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products have been in the works for ten years. Advocates of Tobacco 21 (T21) claim these laws will significantly reduce smoking initiation for young people. However, these laws also ban the sale of vapor products to anyone under 21. HB1711 is Arkansas’ T21 bill in the 2017 session. Only two other states have adopted T21 legislation – California and Hawaii. Advocates of T21 legislation strive for the eventual elimination of tobacco and nicotine products. They promote the view that all tobacco and vapor products, in spite of considerable evidence to the contrary, are equally harmful. T21 legislation, which treats all tobacco and vapor products equally under the law, sends an erroneous message to consumers that vapor products pose risks equivalent to traditional cigarettes. It treats young adults, who are capable enough to serve in the military, sign contracts, and elect decision-makers to public office, as incapable of making the distinction between risky and less risky behavior. T21 laws represent a prohibitionist approach, which in the past has often led to harmful unintended consequences. By including vapor products as a part of T21 legislation, an 18-year-old will be denied access to products that can save him from a lifelong addiction to cigarettes. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance is strongly opposed to this new legislation, and we encourage our members to do everything in their power to influence their representatives to vote against HB1711. More information will be made available when possible.
Legislative Research: AR SB285 | 2017 | 91st General Assembly …
Arkansas needed a vapor advocacy group consisting of consumers and industry leaders. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance was the answer. Initially formed while looming state-level regulations threaten an industry already under attack at a national level. The AVAA is determined to bring together the vaping community as an official organization to battle the misinformation put out my public health and mainstream media. Their mission is to organize an alliance to spread awareness that vapor technology products are a successful tool for tobacco harm reduction tool and have the potential to save A Billion Lives this century according to the WHO. They are battling the FDA deeming rule and are committed to supporting HR1136 in 2017. On the state level, there continues to be anti-vape state bills filed. And at a county and city level, many are facing further restrictions. Without the community speaking up for the consumer’s right to choice of less harmful products, lawmakers will continue to do as they please unopposed. It’s easier to educate initially than to try to change something after the fact. Their hope is that every vaper will stand up to carry their own personal message of success to those that matter.
