Elections and polls are coming up in November. You might be still figuring out who you want to vote for president. With that will include many propositions for you to vote on in California. One of this proposition is Prop 56.

Prop 56 is a tax increase on tobacco and e-cigarette products. Products will be increased by $2.00 per pack for tobacco cigarettes with the equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. This is not so good for smokers and vapers because users are getting tax for no absolute reason that will benefit them in any way.

While there are arguments on both sides of Prop 56. I find this type of tax unnecessary and bring unfairness to small business and consumers. Why should someone be penalized if they want to smoke or vape? There are consequences of smoking and vaping regarding health, but as adults, we chose to live on how we want it even if we are harming ourselves. This is our call.

Proponents of Prop 56 insist that they are doing this to protect the public by reducing smokers. They are also stating this policy is used to the protect the children from using tobacco, which is an understandable reason. It will “supposedly” provide more resources to prevent children from using any type form of nicotine. But I believe it is more than trying to protect the children, but like I stated before in my past blog, it always about the MONEY.

Taxing the product is a way for wealthy special interested group and healthy insurance companies to pocket more money. Prop 56 is a $1.4 billion tax hike grab by not resolving the real issues. Sure, a certain percentage will probably go to schools, but it has little to do with that, more of obtaining a profit. Health insurance companies and wealthy special interests are behind this proposition, in order to allow their CEOs and executives a bigger payday.

It is estimated that only 13% of the tax revenue are going to schools and preventions, while 82% of this goes to health insurance and special interest groups. And 5% of it goes to UC research.

This type of taxing is ridiculous in using children as a reason for this interest group to make a large profit for themselves, and we as vapers are being penalized for this even when we are finding a safer alternative to cigarette smoke with vaping.

So for you Californians, who plan on voting, please vote NO on Prop 56. We don’t need to be paying more for finding a way to get our nicotine so greedy special interest groups and health insurance companies can make a bigger profit off consumers and retailers. Prop 56 is an unfair taxing proposition that does not prevent users from smoking or vaping. All it does is make vapers and smokers suffer from it while top executives pull in more money to their pockets.