First come bans on sales to those under 18, which is probably a good idea. Nevertheless, it sets in motion regulatory oversight and fine structures. It gives police something to get used to doing — haunting vape shops and the like. States then turn to deeper regulations on the “practices” of manufacture, which they later use as an excuse for the burden put on taxpayers for enforcing their safety.
“Child proof caps, which we already do, shrink wraps which we already do, ingredients listed on the back which we already do, nicotine warning on the back which we already do, a clean room to mix in which we already do.”
These are the words from Tony Reed (owner of Indigo Vapor) who makes and sells his own vape liquids. There’s a problem with this though, as is clear in this story about Indiana’s recent bill, found in such statements from those in the business.
Once the government imposes rules for what 99% of everyone is doing anyway, they can say these rules need enforcement. Agencies and staff are required to certify and maintain this situation, and this gets expensive — at least they say it does. So, after the state has created this structure demanding its resources for enforcing unbroken rules, politicians turn to seeking revenue beyond those granted by mere licensing. This creates taxes, special taxes. Taxes that are presented to the public as necessary to fund and maintain public safety. Although no present dangers or health issues have been noticed, no matter. Instead, the state smuggles in the taxes in various kinds of “sensible” public health legislation. Then, as the lack of any problem persists, or rare incidents seemingly related occur, never mind, they need the money. It’s either working, or needs more money.
This is where the state, as it is, enters the fray of creating problems that don’t exist in order to solve them with demonstrable “success.” After all, anyone can solve nothing — but it’ll cost you to have them make up the problem in the first place. This isn’t naive at all, or simple minded, it’s something we’ve seen countless times in emerging markets and industries in this country.
Some of this goes beyond the state’s ideas of exploiting a new industry. There’s also an attempt to manage and control access and “public” expression of what is now deemed by institutional administrators a threat to… something…
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