While all attention has been turned toward medical marijuana and its imminent legalization, another major smoking change is coming to Kentucky on New Year’s Day.
Aimed at curbing youth vaping, House Bill 11 goes into effect January 1, forcing the Commonwealth’s retailers to cut back on inventory — limiting sales to only the vape products that have received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or have “safe harbor” certification.
As of December, the FDA had only approved less than 40 vape product applications, out of more than a million that exist in the country.
The law also introduces fines for businesses caught selling vapes to anyone under 21, with a fourth strike resulting in the loss of the ability to sell vape products for a year.
Altria, a tobacco company and parent of NJOY, is reportedly one of only three manufacturers of the FDA’s list of authorized e-cigarette products, and according to Louisville Public Media, they lobbied in favor of HB11, and spent more than $146,000 doing so in 2024.
Scores of vape products are sold in south western Kentucky, but that is likely to change.
