IL Small Business Owners Warn of the Impending Monopoly by Big Tobacco's HB5069

**For Immediate Release**
http://prsync.com/upper-limits-midwest-inc/illinois-small-business-owners-warn-of-the-impending-monopoly-by-big-tobacco-due-to-hb-4086489/

Illinois Small Business Owners Warn of the Impending Monopoly by Big Tobacco's HB5069

Springfield, Illinois — 4/4/2024 — As the owner of Upper Limits Midwest, Inc., a small business that has proudly served the Springfield community for over a decade, I am compelled to raise an urgent concern regarding House Bill 5069. The bill, under the guise of addressing youth vaping, threatens to dismantle a vital industry that not only supports local entrepreneurs around the state but also contributes significantly to public health advancements in smoking cessation.

A recent market stay granted by a judge for products involved in the PMTA process has given numerous small businesses like ours a fighting chance to continue offering alternatives to traditional tobacco. However, HB5069 stands to overturn these legal protections, effectively granting Big Tobacco a monopoly by removing all other brands from the market. The reality is stark: passing HB5069 would devastatingly harm hundreds of small businesses in Illinois, resulting in significant job losses and cut over $88 million in annual state tax revenue.

The Illusion of Addressing Youth Vaping

The bill is being promoted as a measure to combat youth vaping, but it fails to introduce any concrete solutions that would directly tackle the issue. Instead, it sidelines many small businesses that have consistently upheld strict age-verification practices. Our record is clear: Upper Limits has never sold a vape product to a minor in ten-plus years.

Legal Precedent

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has already questioned the FDA's PMTA process, labeling it "arbitrary and capricious." Despite this, HB5069 seeks to penalize products that have been granted market stay orders by the judiciary, thus undermining the legal process and siding with Big Tobacco.

A Call for Action

We urge the news media, the public, and legislators to recognize the actual implications of HB5069. It's a bill that, far from protecting our youth, would instead strip away adult consumers' access to verified and legal alternatives to smoking while handing a virtual monopoly to Big Tobacco and forcing closure to hundreds of vape shops and smoke shops around the state. Visit https://upperlimitsinc.com/news/post/illinois-vape-ban-hb5069 for more info.

About Upper Limits Midwest, Inc.

Upper Limits Midwest, Inc. is a pioneer in the vape industry with a mission rooted in promoting public health by offering a successful alternative to smoking. Our business is more than a retail store; it is a sanctuary for those seeking a healthier lifestyle. Learn more at upperlimitsinc.com/about-us

• For more information on the economic impact of our industry, please visit https://bit.ly/illinoisvapor
  
  
• To learn about the legal challenges against the FDA's PMTA denials, visit HTTPS://BIT.LY/PMTACOURT
  
  
• For evidence of vaping's efficacy in smoking cessation, see our compilation of scientific research: https://bit.ly/vapescience

Contact:

Matthieu Fortin

Small Business Owner

Upper Limits Midwest, Inc.

upperlimitsinc.com

Address: 1205 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62704

For further press inquiries, please get in touch with Matthieu Fortin at 217-679-4315 x1005

**### End of Release**

CALL THE HB5069 SPONSORS:

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT RITA (D) - 28TH DISTRICT
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
267-S STRATTON OFFICE BUILDING,
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62706
(217) 558-1000
DISTRICT OFFICE
2355 WEST YORK STREET SUITE 1,
BLUE ISLAND, IL, 60406
(708) 396-2822
(708) 396-2898 FAX

[email protected]
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REPRESENTATIVE BRAD STEPHENS
Springfield Office
314 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8182 
District Office:
8323 W. Lawrence Ave Suite D
Norridge, IL 60706
(773) 444-0611
Email: [email protected]

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Representative Katie Stuart 
Springfield Office:
278-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8018 
District Office:
2105 Vandalia St.Unit #16
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 365-6650
Email: [email protected]

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Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. 
Springfield Office:268-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8272 
District Office:8500 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 783-8492
Email: [email protected]

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Representative Janet Yang Rohr (D)

Representative Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (D)

Representative Matt Hanson (D)