Vape Ban Could Have Dramatic Effect Locally

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed ban on flavored e-cigarettes in Michigan may be eclipsed by President Trump’s recently-announced initiative to remove them from the market nationwide.

Wherever it comes from, such a ban will have significant effects on an industry that sells more than two-billion dollars worth of product each year in the United States.

At 906 Vapor in Houghton, manager Alec Tchorz says it would empty their shelves…

While tobacco-oriented flavors would remain legal, Tchorz doesn’t think a lot of their customers would switch back…

With the potential loss of 90 percent of their sales, Tchorz says that will leave vape shop owners just one option…

And, he says, the options won’t be much better for those using e-cigarettes to escape from tobacco…

E-cigarette manufacturers have been accused of targeting teenagers with the marketing. 906 Vapor maintains a strict policy of not selling to minors, but Tchorz and several customers in the shop all agreed that – as with alcohol or tobacco products – if kids want it, they can probably find a way to get it.