Hawaii Passes E-Cigarette Tobacco Tax Amendment

Jun.07.2023
Hawaii Passes E-Cigarette Tobacco Tax Amendment
Hawaii Governor signs bill to classify e-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquids as tobacco products, subject to the same taxes and regulations.

On June 7th, local time in Hawaii, Governor Josh Green signed an amendment to the Tobacco and Cigarette Tax Law, which revises the definition of "tobacco products" to include electronic cigarettes and e-liquids. The amendment was officially announced on Governor Green's website.

 

Currently, tobacco and snuff products in Hawaii are subject to a state consumption tax of 70% of the wholesale price, as well as federal consumer taxes. This legislative amendment will include electronic cigarettes and e-liquids in the definition of "tobacco products," subjecting them to tobacco taxes and laws. This means that electronic cigarette products will be subject to the same tax standards as traditional tobacco products like cigarettes. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2024.

 

Additionally, the bill proposes an increase in license fees for distributors and retailers of cigarettes and tobacco products.

 

Governor Green stated:

 

"This legislation has been under discussion for many years. I commend the Ministry of Health and all advocates, including youth advocates, for their successful efforts to promote this matter."

 

Representative Scott Matayoshi stated:

 

"S.B. 975 is an important bill in our fight against vaping and e-cigarette use, which will ultimately save many people from the harmful effects of tobacco products."

 

Reference(s):

 

Governor Green has signed legislation aimed at protecting children by prohibiting the use of vaping products.

 


Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

UK Parliament Briefing Puts Vape Hardware Design and Materials in Regulatory Focus
UK Parliament Briefing Puts Vape Hardware Design and Materials in Regulatory Focus
The UK Parliament’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has published a scientific briefing reviewing current evidence on the health effects of vape device components, including heating elements, power settings, metals, plastics, batteries and e-liquid ingredients, signalling growing regulatory attention to device design and whole-product systems beyond e-liquids, flavours and packaging.
Special Report
Jun.29
Canada Faces Growing Debate as Youth Nicotine Pouch Use Reaches 34.8%
Canada Faces Growing Debate as Youth Nicotine Pouch Use Reaches 34.8%
New Canadian research shows that 34.8% of people aged 17 to 27 have tried nicotine pouches, up more than fourfold from 7.6% in 2022. The findings come as Conservative politicians, Alberta’s government and the tobacco industry push Ottawa to relax current restrictions on pouch sales.
Jun.12
Haypp Report Shows Nicotine Pouches Gaining Ground as a Vape Alternative in the UK
Haypp Report Shows Nicotine Pouches Gaining Ground as a Vape Alternative in the UK
According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, nicotine pouches are increasingly replacing both cigarettes and vaping. The UK market grew sharply, with Haypp and Northerner reporting a 60% year‑on‑year sales increase in 2025. Notably, 40% of users adopted pouches to quit vaping, nearly matching the 43% who used them to stop smoking. This indicates pouches are expanding beyond traditional smoking cessation and gaining traction among adults seeking non‑inhalable nicotine alternatives.
Jul.01
Australian State Targets Illegal Tobacco Retailers With Tougher Closure Powers
Australian State Targets Illegal Tobacco Retailers With Tougher Closure Powers
According to Reuters, Australia’s state of Victoria introduced legislation to give police and the state tobacco licensing regulator stronger powers to shut businesses selling illegal tobacco, with non-compliant operators facing fines of more than A$2.4 million and up to 20 years in prison.
Jun.05
Special Report | China’s Tobacco Tax Debate Shifts Toward Tax Design as Policy Trade-offs Come Into Focus
Special Report | China’s Tobacco Tax Debate Shifts Toward Tax Design as Policy Trade-offs Come Into Focus
China’s tobacco tax debate is moving from whether to raise prices to how the tax system should be designed. At a Beijing forum on World No Tobacco Day, experts discussed higher specific excise taxes, minimum tax burdens and dynamic adjustments linked to income and inflation. The issue also connects to China’s broader consumption tax reform, health financing and chronic disease costs. Public reports did not mention e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches or other new nicotine products.
Jun.11
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described the tobacco industry as a “criminal” sector with “no future” during an appearance on VRT’s current affairs program Ter Zake. His comments came after Belgium’s Constitutional Court ruled that a government ban on cigarette and vape sales in supermarkets was discriminatory because it allowed small shops to sell tobacco products while prohibiting larger retailers from doing so.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai