BOH agenda 012716 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Moe Makki, of Cloud Vape Lounge in south Durham, says he's not too worried about the ban. "I'm more worried about the juice tax," he says. North Carolina recently became the first state in the country to pass a tax -5 cents per milliliter —on e- liquid. (That's the juice that fills up those complex - looking vaping instruments that are en vogue these days.) The law went into effect this past July. Gregory Conley of the American Vaping Association, a national advocacy group, sees a connection between the tax and the fact that North Carolina is tobacco country. "The reason that tax passed is because R.J. Reynolds supported it," Conley says. The Winston -Salem -based company has an a -cig product, VUSE, but it's what's referred to as a cigalike, which is disposable and doesn't require the purchase of e- liquid. "Tobacco companies don't want to shut down the e- cigarette product category completely, because they offer some e -cig products. But they want to erect barriers to keep new businesses from competing." Harris says the first six months of the ban are meant to be educational. "We're just trying to get the word out," she says. "We're not trying to fine anybody. You'd have to ignore several warnings to get a fine." Reach the INDY's Triangulator team at triangulator*ndyweek.com.