Louisiana residents and local business owners will soon see the effects of a new Louisiana law that seeks to regulate nicotine vapes.
The new law will go into effect on November 1, affecting vaping products without FDA approval and hundreds of vaping-based businesses across the state.
“The lawsuit that would get an injunction to stop this, I don’t anticipate that we’ll be able to stay in business past the 5th of November,” said Spencer Sandifer, owner of The E-Spot and LA Vaping Supply.
The legislation started out as a bill to increase the tax on vaping, but quickly turned into a national effort to restrict its use. John W. Sutherlin, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, says one reason for the law is the increase in use among teenagers.
“The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expressed concerns, brain, heart and a number of health concerns related to nicotine and vaping itself for middle schoolers, high schoolers whose bodies are still developing. This could be a serious challenge.
The law states that any manufacturer of vapor products sold in the state of Louisiana must register with the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control by November 1. If a product isn’t on the registry, it can’t be sold legally.
“In order to get that product on the vape registry and be on the list, every flavour, every strength, it would cost $100.00 to file an application, and that is not a guarantee that it will even get on the list,” Sandifer explained.
Sandifer says this law will have a significant impact on his business.
“We are in the process of clearing out and liquidating all of our products. Whatever inventory remains, we will try to set up a new operation in another state. I’ve been here all my life, born and raised, I’m going to have to leave the state of Louisiana for this.