Small vape shops are raising prices and struggling to stay open amid new FDA regulations on flavoured e-cigarettes. Owners warn of an uncertain future as compliance costs rise.

Green Valley

Vape shops in the Tucson region are experiencing significant challenges following an intensified FDA crackdown on foreign vape devices. Shop owners, such as those at Desert Smoke Shop and One Hit Wonders, report that limited supply has forced them to raise prices and pivot to selling alternative products like gifts and souvenirs. 

Federal authorities have seized over $115 million worth of vape devices in the United States this year, with a notable $86 million seized in a recent operation. The ongoing regulatory actions have left many small retailers uncertain about their future, as vape devices remain their primary source of revenue.

FDA vape crackdown drives price hikes, small shops face uncertain future

I'm here outside the Desert Smoke Shop in Green Valley. This is one of the many smoke and vape shops in the Tucson area being impacted by an FDA crackdown on foreign vapes. Over the past few months at Desert Smoke Shop, Christopher Stewart has noticed a pattern. We have people come down from Florida, Texas, complaining about how they can't find these vape devices. Where we would have multiple customers a day come in requesting for specific products like Two of the most popular brands, both targeted by the FDA crackdown, which intensified this month. It's forced the shop to raise prices on these products. We have access to it and these other shops don't and having the access to it during these times of complications is what's causing the spike in prices. With an unclear future. It feels like a coin toss and we're just kind of waiting for the end result really because with it not being directly banned yet and it just running out of resources, it's scary. The thing that sells the most in the shops right now are the vape devices. You take it away, we're going to be struggling to figure out what's going to go up on that shelf. Over $86 million in vape devices were seized by the federal government on September 10th. That brings the United States up to about $115 million of vapes seized this year. Ellen McBride is co-owner of One Hit Wonders in Tucson. She's seen the impact of these seizures on supply. Sometimes I go to a distributor and we have more vapes in our store than they have in their warehouse. Forcing the shop to pivot towards selling more gift items and souvenirs. Joel Foster, Scripps News Group.

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Washington

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Los Angeles

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Odesa Oblast

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Cebu

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Hollywood

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Ukraine Invasion

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Breakdown