Flavor Bans and Restrictions
Compared to alcohol and standard cigarettes vaping is pretty brand new to the market.To better understand the vaping bans around the world here is some of the history of how vaping started and how we are where we are today.
Vaping was first introduced to the European and U.S. market in 2006, however the first commercially successful device was created in 2003. Even before that there were patents for E-cigarettes since the 1930's. In 2008 the World Health Organization did not consider e-cigarettes to even be a legitimate smoking cessation aid. In late 2008 a study done in New Zealand showed e-cigarettes to be a safe alternative to smoking. Starting in 2009 this is where some of the bans and regulations will begin, however we will list the bans and regulations by country or states to avoid any confusion with a timeline.
The United States has different bans and regulations depending on the State or area that you are in or visiting. First and foremost it should be known that the FDA was given power to regulate the overall tobacco industry in June 2009 from an act signed into law. The act is named The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed by former president Barack Obama. Listed below will be the states/cities with bans or regulations, however there is a Federal that law bans the sales of Closed system devices such as pods and cartridges that contain e-liquid with flavors other than tobacco and menthol:
- California - These following areas in California have a complete ban for selling e-cigarettes:Alameda County, Antioch, Arroyo Grande, Benicia, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Carpinteria, Carson, Cerritos, Contra Costa County, Danville, Dublin, East Palo Alto, Hayward, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Manhattan Beach, Menlo Park, Monterey County, Morgan Hill, Morro Bay, Orinda, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Redwood City, Richmond, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo, San Mateo County , Santa Clara County, Saratoga, Sebastopol, South San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Watsonville and Windsor. In 2022 California banned the sales of Menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.
- Georgia - The city of Watkinsville banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes with menthol, tobacco and mint being an acception
- Illinois - River Forest, Chicago and Skokie ban all vape flavors except tobacco. Skokie does allow menthol vapes as well.
- Maine - These cities will have a flavor ban on vape/tobacco products, Portland, Brunswick, Bangor and South Portland
- Maryland - The state of Maryland has prohibited the sales of disposable closed system vapes for all flavors except tobacco. Montgomery county banned all vape flavors except tobacco.
- Massachusetts - Vape products containing more than 35mg of nicotine are restricted to specialty tobacco stores or smoking bars.
- Minnesota - These areas in Minnesota prohibit all sales for flavored vape and tobacco products: Big Stone County, Bloomington, Brown’s Valley, DiIworth, Edina, Golden Valley, Mendota Heights and Moorehouse. The following municipalities exempt menthol: New Hope, Nobles County, Prior Lake, Robbinsdale and Shakopee.
- Montana - The city of Missoula prohibits all flavors for vape or tobacco products except tobacco.
- New Jersey - Prohibits flavored vape/tobacco products except tobacco.
- New York - New York City, Yonkers and Nassau county have banned the sale of all flavored vape products except tobacco.
- Ohio - The city of Brexley and Columbus have banned all vape/tobacco flavors except tobacco.
- Oregon - The city of Portland and Multnomah county have prohibited all flavors for tobacco and vape products except the tobacco flavor.
- Pennsylvania - Philadelphia restricts the sale of nicotine over 20mg and flavored vape products.
- Rhode Island - Prohibits the sale of flavored vapes except tobacco flavors.
- South Dakota - Prohibits shipping tobacco/vape products to any consumer. Does not matter if you are shipping within or outside of the state.
- Utah - Prohibits online retail sales.
- Vermont - Prohibits online sales for vape products.
As you may be able to tell depending where you go in the United States certain flavors, nicotine levels may not be available to you. These bans are due to the FDA and underage vaping rates rising. However should the rising rate in underage vaping be blamed on the vape industry as a whole for having flavors or should it be the responsibility of the legal guardians? Vape flavors were created by adults for adults to help them transition from smoking cigarettes to vapes easier.
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