Geek Bar Pulse X: The New Cuban Cigar?

Have you stepped into a vape shop or smoke shop recently to pick up your favorite flavor of the Geek Bar Pulse or the Geek Bar Pulse X and it was nowhere to be found? Unfortunately, not only is that shop likely out of stock... but it might be a while before they get their hands on more. 

It seems there has been a series of legal hiccups, including but not limited to Trump's tariffs. 

So, getting your hands on a new Geek Bar Pulse disposable vape might be a bit of a challenge in the near future. The bottom line is this: these disposables are coming in from China. If they were developed in the United States, things would be a bit different. 

Does this sound familiar? 

Is the Geek Bar Pulse the New Cuban Cigar?

If you're not aware, there's a bit of a history with Cuban cigars in the United States. Let me explain: 

Cuban cigars were (and still are) a very sought out vice for Americans who love smoking cigars. However, they’re pretty much off-limits thanks to a long-standing trade embargo.

Since 1962, importing Cuban cigars has been banned, with only a small exception—travelers returning from Cuba can bring back under $100 worth for personal use.

Buying, selling, or importing them otherwise is illegal and can lead to fines or confiscation. This restriction has fueled a black market filled with counterfeit products.

However, if you're abroad, enjoying a real Cuban cigar is still fair game—as long as you don’t bring it back to the States.

That said, nothing is stopping you from vaping Geek Bar Pulse... yet. 

Can You Still Vape Geek Bar Pulse?

Look, no one is gonna stop you from vaping a Geek Bar Pulse or any flavored vape for that matter. They are, however, being confiscated at the port, just as a Cuban cigar would be. 

As per Reuters,

Shipments of vapes from China to the U.S. ground to a near halt in May from a year ago, official data shows, hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and a crackdown on unauthorised e-cigarettes in the world's biggest market for smoking alternatives.

If you find a smoke shop that still sells the Geek Bar Pulse or the Geek Bar Pulse X, at the very least, you've probably seen that the price has doubled. 

There are some states that have banned flavored vapes outright: California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Furthermore, states like Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and Florida have certain restrictions of their own. 

But you're not gonna get in trouble. Same with Cuban cigars. While there is an embargo on Cuba and tariffs on China, the bottom line is... nobody actually gives a s***. Plenty of folks own Cuban cigars and the same will ring true of Geek Bar Pulses. 

So, yes -- the current situation with the Geek Bar Pulse heavily resembles the situation with Cuban cigars. The latter of the two have been "illegal" since 1962 under president John F. Kennedy. 

Trump isn't the only one who pushed for a flavored vape ban (not by a long shot), so unfortunately, we could be looking at some Geek Bar drama for the foreseeable future. 

Conclusion

So, is the Geek Bar Pulse conundrum anything like the Cuban cigar embargo? If I'm being honest, I'm being a little cute with the language but the comparison holds true. It's not new for the United States to step in and make it harder for us to buy nicotine products... and it's, unfortunately, politically motivated. 

It's hard not to notice the similarities here. While one is a sweet and slick handheld device and the other one looks like a poop, there's a trend here. 

Sources: 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-faces-vape-shortage-china-tariffs-seizures-hit-geek-bar-2025-06-05/