Jessica Wynn

You know, I mean, they literally look like school supplies and they're often manufactured in China, smuggled into the U.S.

and sold without approval.

And they often contain even higher nicotine levels than legal products.

I mean, that's the reality.

Reports estimate illegal vaping products make up a huge chunk of the U.S.

market.

Yeah.

I mean, there have been lawsuits against e-cigarette companies, primarily Juul, for illegal sales, marketing to underage users and misleading consumers about health risks.

So significant settlements have happened, including one by Juul for over a billion dollars to many states to fund prevention programs and address the youth vaping crisis.

So the UK regulates some nicotine vapes as medical quit tools, but they ban youth-focused marketing and flavors.

Similar in New Zealand.

Canada implemented a maximum nicotine concentration.

Australia requires prescriptions for nicotine vapes.

And China only allows tobacco-flavored products domestically.

China!

Yeah, I mean, that's right.

In 2022, China banned the sale of flavored vapes, but still exports them internationally, mainly to the U.S.

Right.

And what's more incredible is that countries that have implemented strict regulations do see positive results.

Vaping rates in Europe, where they crack down on youth marketing, are significantly lower than in the U.S.