Attorney General Jay Jones announced on Apr. 1 that Virginia lawmakers and officials held a virtual press conference to address the growing issue of illegal and unregulated vape products in the state, following the passage of HB 308 and SB 620, known as the “Vape Enforcement Act.” The event included former Senator Adam Ebbin, Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, and Delegate Patrick Hope.
The new law aims to close enforcement loopholes that have allowed unregulated vape products to reach students in schools and communities with little oversight. Speakers said these gaps enabled dangerous products with unknown ingredients to be sold openly. “For too long, we’ve known what’s happening in our schools and communities,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “You can walk into middle schools across the Commonwealth and see it. Teachers are confiscating vapes from bathrooms. Kids are sharing them. At the same time, unregulated products with unknown ingredients have been sitting on store shelves with no enforcement. That is unacceptable.” Jones added that existing laws prohibiting tobacco sales to those under 21 were not enough due to weak enforcement.
Jones also said: “This is a public health issue and a consumer protection issue, and one the bill patrons have been working tirelessly for years to address… The Vape Enforcement Act closes those loopholes and gives us the tools to stop it.” Data from a Virginia Commonwealth University forensic toxicology study showed that out of more than 1,300 vape products collected from K-12 schools, 83 percent contained nicotine at inconsistent levels; some also contained alcohol.
Former Senator Adam Ebbin addressed concerns raised by parents, educators, and public health experts: “These highly addictive products are often marketed as safer alternatives, but they are doing real harm… This legislation puts an end to the sale of unregulated products and ensures they are no longer slipping through the cracks.” Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg commented on youth vaping rates: “Rates of youth vaping are at an all-time high… Shops have been able to operate without oversight… That changes now. If you sell these products, you will be licensed, and if you break the law, you will be shut down.” Delegate Patrick Hope emphasized collaborative efforts behind this legislation: “This law strengthens our enforcement abilities … By empowering the Office of the Attorney General, Virginia ABC, and law enforcement we now have the ability to investigate enforce remove these products from circulation.”
The Attorney General of Virginia supports civil rights enforcement programs for victims according to its official website. The office provides legal counsel for state agencies while promoting public safety as detailed online. Miyares holds office as Virginia’s 48th attorney general according to official information, serving all residents across Virginia as reported by its website. Additional priorities include addressing human trafficking through legal advocacy according to official sources as well as offering consumer protection resources such as identity theft support noted online.
Looking ahead, speakers indicated continued efforts will focus on strong enforcement against noncompliant sellers while providing education about risks associated with vaping among youth.
