Tobacco companies have won legislative language in at least 19 states that protects e-cigarettes from tobacco control programs and cigarette taxes. At least 11 of those pull nearly verbatim from template language written by Reynolds American Inc., which sells the VUSE e-cigarette. Below is an excerpt from Reynolds' template, which was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, together with matching excerpts from the state laws, all of which ban sales of e-cigarettes to minors. Click on the bill titles to see larger versions.
Drew Sikkink contributed to this story.