Advertisement
Advertise with us
sidenav

New York State AG Sues Major Vape Distributors

In this article we will cover
New York AG plays whack-a-mole with disposable vapes
State attorneys keep the “youth vaping epidemic” in the news
Advertisement
Advertise with us

President Trump promised before the 2024 election that he would, if elected, “save flavored vaping,” and while that may eventually happen—at the federal level anyway—vape consumers and businesses are certainly facing more challenges at the state level than ever before.

In some states, vape retailers and distributors face lawsuits and other legal threats from their state attorneys general (AGs), and many Democratic legislators remain obsessed with banning flavored vapes—the preferred “solution” to youth vaping promoted by Democratic Party allies in tobacco control and public health.

In Republican-led states, lawmakers beholden to rich tobacco companies have adopted the strategy of PMTA registry (or directory) laws intended to block sales of products that compete with vapes (and cigarettes) sold by Big Tobacco. In many cases, the laws are created by tobacco industry lobbyists.

For small e-liquid manufacturers, importers of popular disposable vapes, Chinese vape device manufacturers, and consumers of all these products, it probably doesn’t matter whether the threat comes from friends of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids or recipients of campaign donations from tobacco companies like Altria Group and R.J. Reynolds. In both cases, the laws are intended to restrict vaping product choice and access.

Today we’re looking at recent actions by state attorneys general. Next week, we’ll focus on proposed flavor bans and PMTA registry bills currently active in state legislatures.

New York AG plays whack-a-mole with disposable vapes

Yesterday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit alleging that 13 vape manufacturers, distributors and retailers illegally distribute, market and sell flavored vapes in New York state, which banned the sale of flavored vaping products in 2020.

According to a press release from James’ office, the companies and individuals named in the lawsuit “market highly addictive, candy- and fruit-flavored nicotine products to underage consumers, mislead customers about the safety and legality of their products, illegally ship products to New York, and violate health regulations designed to curb youth vaping.”

Thelawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and damages. Defendants include major vape distributors Demand Vape, Midwest Goods and Mi-Pod.

James charges that flavored disposable vapes sold by the defendants are responsible for “fueling the youth vaping epidemic”—despite the fact that youth vaping peaked in 2019, before disposable vapes became widely available. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, middle and high school vaping has fallen by more than 70 percent since 2019.

"The vaping industry is taking a page out of Big Tobacco's playbook: they're making nicotine seem cool, getting kids hooked, and creating a massive public health crisis in the process," said James.

Last month, James and the New York State Department of Health filed a lawsuit in an attempt to shut down a single vape shop in New York State's rural Herkimer County. 

State attorneys keep the “youth vaping epidemic” in the news

This week’s New York lawsuit is the latest salvo in a coordinated effort by (mostly) Democratic AGs to keep youth vaping in the news, which improves the chances of passing more laws restricting vapes. They also intend to generate income (and headlines) by imposing fines or reaching settlements with vape industry scofflaws. Of course, those aren’t their stated purposes.

In January, AGs in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio (the lone Republican AG in the group), Vermont, and Washington D.C., announced the creation of “a coordinated, multi-state enforcement initiative to address the unlawful sales of flavored e-cigarettes, vape pens, and accessories.”

Since January 15, officials in most of those states have engaged in enforcement actions of some sort: 

Of course, squeezing vape businesses for headlines and profit isn’t exclusive to Democratic politicians (and, yes, AGs are certainly politicians). Nearly every state, including those with Republican AGs, sued and accepted a settlement with Juul Labs. But it is Democratic state attorneys general that view the vape industry as a target-rich environment they can exploit again and again.

Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Reviews
Article preview image
Freemax REXA PRO & REXA SMART Review: Too Smart?

The Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART are highly advanced pod vapes, offering seemingly endless features, beautiful touchscreens, and new DUOMAX pods.

Wed Jul 30 2025
Article preview image
OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA Review: A Match Made in Heaven!

The OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA is powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chipset, offering a Replay function and dry hit protection. Read our review to find out more.

Fri Jul 18 2025
Article preview image
SKE Bar Review: A Reusable Crystal Bar!

The SKE Bar is a 2 mL replaceable pod vape with a 500 mAh battery, a 1.2-ohm mesh coil, and 35 flavors to choose from in 2% nicotine.

Mon Jul 7 2025
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Learn
vaping taxes
Vaping Taxes in the United States and Around the World

Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.

Thu Jul 31 2025
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?

The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.

Tue Jul 1 2025
Where vaping is banned or restricted
Vape Bans: E-Cigarette Restrictions in the U.S. and Worldwide

A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.

Fri Jul 4 2025
About Authors
Jim McDonald
845 posts

Smokers created vaping for themselves without help from the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco crusaders, and I believe vapers and the vaping industry have the right to continue innovating to give everyone who wants to use nicotine access to safe and attractive non-combustible options. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about vaping and the challenges nicotine consumers face from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy

See author’s profile
Vaping360.com strives to be the world's most trusted resource for vapers and smokers. We take pride in our editorial integrity, accuracy, and the honesty of our writers.
Read more about us

Rely on Our Expertise

At Vaping360, we take pride in our deep expertise and years of experience in the vaping industry. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to leveraging their extensive knowledge to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Authenticity

Genuine insights backed by thorough and exhaustive research and testing.

Reliability

Consistent, accurate information from the vaping industry experts.

Empowerment

Transparent and reliable content for confident and informed decision-making.

About us

Our mission is clear: to help people who smoke transition to low-risk alternatives and contribute to a smoke-free world. With each article we publish and each review we conduct, we're working towards this goal.

about-us-banner
product preview