COLORADO SPRINGS — There are new regulations going into effect for the vaping industry and we want to clear up some confusion about what's being banned.
All vaping flavors will still be available in one form, but about five million middle and high schoolers vape and a lot of them use the flavored disposable cartridges. That's why the Food and Drug Administration is banning a good majority of those and shops have 30 days to comply.
"We're kind of rolling with the punches as far as this stuff happens," said Noah Leuer. He's the director of compliance for Absolute Vapor and Vapor Source. This week he's learning about new rules for the vaping industry.
"In the next 30 days the flavored cartridge ENDS products are going to be coming off the market so all these pre-filled cartridge systems that you kind of throw away when you're done with them."
The exceptions are tobacco and menthol flavors.
His shop doesn't sell the disposable cartridges.
Leuer said, "As of right now it's not going to have much of an impact. I would think that if anything we're going to see an increase in sales."
That's because e-liquids will still be available with the so-called "open tank" vaping systems which regulators say are mostly used by adults.
Leuer said, "Some of these refillable tank systems that are popular that we sell a lot of here in our stores, all of the flavors are going to still remain on the market for those products."
The new regulations are drawing opinions from both sides. President Trump said we need to protect our families while also protecting the industry, but some believe it's not enough.
Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said, "This can't even be described as a step in the right direction because it is going to create the illusion of fundamental change without creating it. We need to eliminate these flavored products."
As for Leuer, he said, "The main goal is always to keep these products out of the hands of the children while still allowing adults to have access to a safer alternative."
He said when it comes to the new regulations "you never like to see anything get banned ever."
As for what happens next - only time will tell.
Another new regulation that went into effect last month was the government increasing the age to buy all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21.
