New FDA Regulations for Smoke, Vape Shops Take Effect Monday - - EverythingLubbock.com

By Leslie Adami | [email protected]


Published 08/04 2016 07:18PM

Updated 08/04 2016 07:18PM


LUBBOCK, TX

On Monday new regulations set by the FDA will take effect in smoke and vape shops across the country. The new regulations will extend to all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

Under the new FDA regulations, these shops will no longer be able to make or sell juices made in store, help their customers assemble their devices, or give away free samples of their juices. And while it is currently illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18, also beginning Monday, the FDA will be able to include non-tobacco products, such as e-cigs, in that ban.

In addition, all products sold in the stores must now be preordered and will need to undergo a lengthy and expensive application process.

Due to the new regulations, some stores have felt driven to close their doors come Monday, such as Hub City Vapors. Their manager, Tom Jordan, shared this statement with EverythingLubbock:

"As a result of new regulations, the FDA now categorizes our store as an e-juice manufacturer and requires us to register as such. Even though we buy in bulk and repackage juice to sell in smaller bottles and do not produce any of our own e-juice, the FDA still considers us manufacturers. The cost of complying with the new regulations would be very high, and we would have to pass the cost to our customers through greatly increased prices.

We believe that through good service we have provided helpful products to our customers, who in many cases have used our products to completely kick the smoking habit; however, Hub City Vapors will close instead of trying to comply with these burdensome regulations."

When the FDA made its announcement in May, there were some shops who then decided to begin implementing the changes so that it would be a far smoother transition for both themselves and their customers.

Kim Pharr, the manager of 180 Vape says it was important for her and employees to assure their customers they would be working on the changes alongside them.

"The bigger changes have already been implemented," said Pharr on Thursday.

As a result of the new regulations taking effect shortly, Ike Monies, the assistant manager of Juicy Juice Vapes, says his business is having a major blowout sale on all in-store made juices.

"By Monday, it's all got to go," said Monies, who believes the changes won't impact their store too much, but does understand some of the challenges fellow vape/smoke shop businesses now face.

"Now you've got to figure out what you're gonna do next. Should I bring in tobacco accessories and try to compensate for the loss? Or should i just get out of business?"

Monies says however, he does believe the ban is for the most part a 'good thing.'

"They [FDA] don't want them making it and hurting people because some people have been getting too much nicotine in their juice having overdoses from nicotine going to the hospital. So, so many complaints have came in, that's why the FDA has come down to stop that, and that's good for us you know, because we don't want to discourage people from vaping. We want people to still vape to get off those killer cigarettes."

An increase in prices and changes an absence in store-made juices, however, may have some customers reverting back to old habits. That's why for the most part, local shops want to be sure to comply with the new rules as best as possible, but also work to keep prices as low or the same as possible.

"We're going to work with our companies as best as we can to keep prices down on the retail side of it," said Jonathan Chinners, the manager of Green Gorilla Smoke & Vape Shop.

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