Illinois has enacted new laws that place additional restrictions on electronic cigarettes, set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation targets the marketing and shipping of e-cigarettes in an effort to protect youth from the dangers of vaping.
Prohibiting Deceptive Marketing Practices
One of the new laws prohibits the advertising, marketing, or promotion of electronic cigarettes in a manner that may cause individuals to mistake them for objects other than tobacco products. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) highlighted that some e-cigarettes are designed to resemble school supplies, such as highlighters, erasers, and pencil sharpeners.
Senator Morrison emphasized the importance of this law in preventing tobacco companies from deceiving educators and guardians responsible for keeping children safe.
Concerns Over Potential Shift to Combustible Cigarettes
Elizabeth Hicks from the Consumer Choice Center expressed concerns that the crackdown on vaping may lead some Illinois residents to return to traditional combustible cigarettes, ultimately burdening taxpayers with the cost of smoking-related illnesses.
Hicks noted that the annual Medicaid costs for smoking-related illnesses in Illinois exceed $2 billion, ranking among the highest in the country.
Restricting Online Sales and Shipping
Another law prohibits the shipping of electronic cigarettes purchased via mail, online, or through other remote sale methods to anyone in Illinois other than distributors or retailers. State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) emphasized the need for these restrictions, stating that the internet has made it too easy for children to access vapes.
Senator Loughran Cappel cited concerns raised by local elected officials who observed an increase in vape usage in schools, prompting the implementation of safeguards to protect children from the dangers of smoking.
As Illinois implements these new laws, the state aims to address the growing concern of youth vaping by targeting deceptive marketing practices and restricting online access to e-cigarettes. The effectiveness of these measures in curbing underage vaping will be closely monitored as the laws take effect in the coming year.
