A bipartisan group of attorneys general has put pressure on Shopify to enforce tighter controls over the sale of vapes, particularly those sales that reach minors. According to Phoenix New Times, Arizona's Attorney General Kris Mayes and 24 other state officials have asked the e-commerce platform to be more vigilant in preventing underage access to nicotine and tobacco products online.
Together with authorities from regions including New York and the District of Columbia, the attorneys general signed a letter recently, targeting Shopify after finding at least 29 vape websites on their hosting service that allow sales to minors. “Shopify is currently hosting a countless number of merchants illegally selling nicotine vapes or e-cigarettes. It is blatant law-breaking and a danger to the young people and teens who should not have access to these harmfully addictive tobacco products,” Mayes said, as reported by the Phoenix New Times.
The issue has drawn significant attention following a move by Arizona to increase the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21, as well as the Supreme Court's decision in April to allow the FDA to place limitations on marketing vapes. The coalition's letter commended Shopify on past cooperation with California's attorney general, but urged a "more comprehensive solution," citing public health concerns from vaping.
As reported by Reuters, the signatories called for ongoing collaboration with Shopify to address the sale of unregulated vapes, many of which are manufactured in China and often include appealing fruity or sweet flavors. "By addressing unlawful e-cigarette sales at their point of origin, we can make progress faster and more effectively," stated California Attorney General Rob Bonta in the letter.
These efforts mirror broader legal actions targeting the vape industry. Earlier in the year, the U.S. Postal Service intervened to block a major vape distributor, following vape supply chain raids initiated by the Trump administration. Shopify has not immediately responded to requests for comment from media outlets regarding the attorneys general's letter. The seriousness of the issue is underscored by the cross-partisan support for the cause, reflecting the shared concern over youth exposure to vaping and addiction to nicotine. As authorities wait for further action from Shopify, the convergence of legal and public health officials onto the digital storefront signals the imperative to safeguard the well-being of teens and the continued enforcement of the law in the e-commerce age.
