6/2/22 N.J. Moves To Ban Sale Of Menthol Cigarettes Despite Warnings Of Illicit Sales The sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes and other smoking devices, long criticized for their appeal to minorities and underage smokers, would be banned in New Jersey under a bill that cleared a state Assembly panel Thursday. In April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a plan to ban menthol products nationwide, which account for about one-third of all tobacco sales. But that regulatory process could take as long as five years to complete, said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, chairman of the Assembly Health Committee. He urged his committee colleagues to vote yes on the statewide ban rather than allow more harm. 6/5/22 N.J. Legal Weed In Full Swing, But Still No Rules For Detecting If Workers Are High On The Job Six weeks after New Jersey launched a highly profitable recreational marijuana program and 15 months after the law allowing it took effect, the state agency charged with regulating the new industry still has not come up with basic standards for detecting weed in the workplace. The lack of progress on a certification protocol on what to do with workers who test positive or appear to be under the influence of cannabis has frustrated state lawmakers and corporate executives and left employees in the dark. "Now that cannabis is being sold legally in New Jersey, it's much more likely that employees will show up to work impaired or with traces of the drug in their system," state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, said in a statement Thursday. "That could be extremely dangerous at a construction site, in a hospital, or in the airline industry where any level of impairment could result in serious accidents." 6/6/22 NJ Gas Hits $5: 3 Reasons Why Prices Keep Rising With most pandemic restrictions in the rearview, more people are getting behind the wheel to enjoy the summer. But those trips come with a hefty price, as gas prices in New Jersey average nearly $5 per gallon. Turbulence in the worldwide oil trade, increased demand for summer travel, and oil and gas companies continuing to collect high profits have contributed to record-high gas prices around the nation. 6/6/22 NACS Requests 60-Day Extension on Menthol Ban Comment Period NACS, along with NATSO and SIGMA, have asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a 60-day extension of the comment period for the FDA's two proposed tobacco product standards that would prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and cigars. "Given the complexity of the rules, the extensive data to analyze, and the impact to the marketplace to consider, the Associations are requesting a 60-day extension of the comment period. This additional time will ensure the Associations and our retail members can provide FDA with detailed and meaningful comments on these complex issues," wrote the groups in a letter to the FDA. 6/6/22 EPA Sets 2020-22 Biofuel Blending Mandate The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced biofuel blending mandates for 2022 and the prior two years, reports Reuters. The 2022 biofuel blending mandate for 2022 is 20.63 billion gallons, and the EPA retroactively set the volume mandates for 2021 at 18.84 billion gallons and for 2020 at 17.13 billion gallons. The EPA also denied oil refiners waivers to be exempt from the requirements but said it would allow extra time for small refiners to meet their 2020 blending obligations. 6/7/22 Costco Will Require Membership to Purchase Gas Starting July 5 Costco has announced that it will soon require a store membership in order to purchase gasoline. The new rule will go into effect on July 5, according to signs posted at Costco gas stations across the state. Purchasing fuel currently does not require a Costco membership. . . "My guess is if Costco is doing this it's because their members are not happy that nonmembers get the same privilege they do," says Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline Convenience Store and Automotive Association. Risalvato says that there is no apparent legal reason preventing Costco from going members-only for gas. But he says he questions why customers would go out of their way to wait for prices that may not always be lower. "If you are going to wait in line for gasoline for 45 minutes to save 15 cents a gallon or even 20 cents a gallon, what did you save? You didn't safe anything. You burn that much gas waiting for the pump to be opened," he says. 6/7/22 Buy Gas From Costco In NJ? They're About to Make a Major Change As the average price of gas climbs over $5 per gallon, many New Jersey drivers have found relief in lower prices at wholesale retailers. That could be about to change. . . Sal Risavado, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store, and Automotive Association, suspects the reason for the change is the long lines at Costco. He thinks members complained about having to wait in lines for up to 45 minutes along with customers who are not paying for a membership. 6/7/22 A Drop In NJ Gas Prices Could Start In Days
It's become the new reality in New Jersey: Gas prices keep climbing higher and higher to new records almost every single day. But we could soon get a break. According to Tom Kloza, the global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service, we could be getting a respite from rising gas prices in the coming days. He said over the next three months, "the trend is still higher but I think the next three weeks we might wobble back a little bit. You may see a nickel, 10 cents lower." 6/7/22 Costco Wants To Limit Gas Station Fill Ups To Members, But Is It Allowed In New Jersey? Costco plans next month to restrict gasoline sales to club members across the country, including here in New Jersey. On Tuesday at Centerton Square in Mount Laurel there were six lanes of cars waiting to get gas at multiple pumps at the Costco gas station, whose prices tend to be cheaper than many other stations. The price for regular unleaded gas there was $4.83 per gallon - compared to $5 and more at many other stations - while premium was $5.29 per gallon. Signs posted at Costco gas stations pumps in New Jersey this week carry the following announcement: "Effective July 5, 2022, your active Costco membership card will be required for gasoline purchases." |
