Ranking of U.S. Cities by Vaping Friendliness (Photos)

A recent report from the R Street Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., has released a detailed analysis of the vaping regulatory environment. The report ranks 52 cities across the United States, distinguishing those that are more welcoming to vaping from those that are not.

According to the data, Virginia Beach in Virginia is the largest city to receive an A+ rating, while three cities in Arizona—Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa—also received an A rating.

At the bottom of the list are Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle, and eight cities in California, all receiving an F rating, indicating that the current political climate, with the passage of bans and consumption taxes, has a negative impact on vapers, according to a California nonprofit organization dedicated to transparency and fiscal responsibility, Watchdog.

Minneapolis performed the worst overall, with the authors of the study stating: “The situation is dire; this city has a tax paradigm that actually favors cigarettes over vaping.”

Overall Results of the Study

The analysis provided cites research indicating the public health benefits of vaping and how these benefits are affected by legislation that imposes punitive taxes and restrictions on vapor product users, similar to those imposed on smokers.

The authors of the study, Cameron Smith and Dan Semelsberger, stated: “If the goal of tobacco policy is to reduce public harm, then alternative products that help smokers quit should be legally favored.”