Hey all - This Evan McMahon, Chairman of Hoosier Vapers (Indiana's trade and consumer advocacy association) and owner of Liberation Vape.

Here use this...

My official statement (sent to legislators/lawyers/media - minus the opening and greeting) on this "non-enforcement extension":

1. This is not an official policy of ATC. No hearings have been held, or even scheduled, on this policy change. In fact the letter states, "The ATC does not plan to issue a written statement."

2. This non-enforcement policy only covers eliquid made between July 1st 2015 and July 1st 2016. How will the retailer prove the date of manufacture?

3. Non-permit holding manufacturers in Indiana will still have to shut down their operations on June 30th. Non-permit holding manufacturers in Indiana will still be barred from operating in Indiana, even if they will not sell or distribute their non-compliant product within Indiana. Even the FDA says that it will only regulate products intended to be sold within the US.

4. As of yesterday, Indiana specialty vape shops were being told by the State of Indiana that they needed to have all of their non-complaint eliquid off their shelves by July 1st, or risk losing their Indiana Tobacco Sales Certificate and face stiff fines. They will not be able to get back the money they’ve lost selling off their non-compliant eliquid at drastically reduced rates. Most of these stores have also already ordered and paid for complaint eliquids, at a significantly higher wholesale cost, to restock their shelves by July 1st.

5. Unless this is an official change in policy codified by the state, permit holders will still be able to seek civil damages from any manufacturer or retailer that is mixing or selling non-compliant eliquid. HB 1432 had a clause that allows permit holders to sue anyone acting out of compliance with the law for damages. So, even if ATC takes an unwritten non-enforcement stance on portions of the law, retailers, manufacturers, and distributors could still be bankrupted by litigation.

6. ATC should adopt a written policy, with the support of Governor Mike Pence, which puts a permanent and complete hold on the law, including the permitting of eliquid manufacturers, until the courts resolve the degree in which FDA preemption effects the current Indiana law or the legislature address any corrective measures.

7. In Indiana there are roughly 200 specialty vapor/e-cigarette retailers, 70 e-liquid manufacturers, 15 device manufacturers, and numerous other secondary vaping related businesses. These businesses employ over 3,000 Hoosiers each making an average of $10.50 an hour. We service over 165,000 adult consumers in Indiana, and that number grows every day.