Cigarette companies have spent nearly $4 million to defeat a ballot measure in North Dakota on Tuesday that would also impose a tax on e-cigarettes. This year, at least 17 other states considered legislation to tax e-cigarettes, but only Pennsylvania and West Virginia actually did, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Under the new rule, e-cigarette companies have two years to submit scientific information to the F.D.A. Until the agency knows more, manufacturers say, it is unfair to tax e-cigarettes the same way as cigarettes. Most of the new tax revenue in California would be earmarked for Medi-Cal, the state’s health program for low-income residents.

Source: New York Times November 06, 2016 21:29 UTC