Are you between the ages of 18 and 20? Have you been denied the service from local vape shops despite no longer being a minor? It’s because vaping legally in the United States is a sticky subject nowadays, with stricter federal and state laws being placed on its age limits.
So how can you tell if it is legal for you to use vapes in your state or your area? There is a couple of different ways, so keep reading to find out!
Consulting Federal and State Legislation
The most straightforward solution is to check your state’s local laws on its sale of vape pens and vape juice. But if you are 21, you should be in the clear no matter where you are in the US. If you are between 18 and 20, you might run into some issues.
Odds are, you might be thinking, “Just a few years ago 18-year-olds could buy vaping products. What happened?” It comes down to this: in December 2019, Donald Trump signed a federal law that would raise the minimum age of tobacco product use from 18 to 21.
Here is where things get tricky, because some states, like Georgia and South Carolina, do not consider vapes to be tobacco products. If your state does not think of vapes as tobacco products, then there is a higher chance that they will serve 18 to 20 year-olds.
Keep it simple and check your state’s vaping laws online.
Asking Your Local Vape Shop
What happens when certain states or areas do not follow the federal mandate? Yes, this happens. It is called nullification and it happens more than you might think.
Usually, bigger cities and metropolitan areas tend to be more strict about federal vaping laws. You’re more likely to be served under 21 in Small Town, USA than in a big urban city.
That is why it is a good idea to call or visit your local vape shops and ask what their policies are. They may be more relaxed about federal vaping laws than you would expect!
Flavored E-Cigs and Vape Mods
Flavored vape juice and vape mods are also under fire from US legislation. The appealing flavors are feared to be too attractive to minors so in September 2019 the federal government took steps to make them harder to buy.
The flavor ban varies from state to state so do not hesitate to check your state’s laws or local city ordinances.
Vape mods are vaping devices that are bigger than pens or e-cigs and produce more vapor. Because they can emit more nicotine than a regular pen, some areas have cracked down harder on the devices.
Staying Legal Using Vapes
We hope you have learned how to ensure your legal use of vape products from this article! The legal age to vape varies mainly state by state so be sure to check online or call your local vape shop.
Stay safe and be sure to check out more of our articles on vaping and how to stay legal!