Tobacco companies have won legislative language in at least 19 states that protects e-cigarettes from tobacco control programs and cigarette taxes.
At least 11 of those pull nearly verbatim from template language written by Reynolds American Inc., which sells the VUSE e-cigarette.
Below is an excerpt from Reynolds’ template, which was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, together with matching excerpts from the state laws, all of which ban sales of e-cigarettes to minors. Click on the bill titles to see larger versions.
Page 1 of Template
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Page 3 of AZ-sb1209
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Page 2 of GA-HB-251
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Page 1 of IA-Chapter-1109
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Page 1 of KY-438-305
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Page 2 of MO-SB841
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Page 2 of MT-SB0066
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Page 4 of NE-LB863
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Page 3 of OK-SB1602-ENR
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Page 1 of TN-pc0353
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Page 2 of VA-legp604
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Page 2 of WA-HB-1937
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Drew Sikkink contributed to this story.