North Carolina vaping product ban begins July 1: What's banned, what residents should know – citizen-times.com
On July 1, 2025, a new ban on disposable tobacco vapor products goes into effect in North Carolina.
Though the law technically went into effect May 1, vendors were allowed a 60-day grace period to adjust. Beginning July 1, vendors must sell only disposable tobacco vapor products listed on the NC Department of Revenue’s directory of approved vape products. The directory notably excludes certain popular brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, Lost Mary and more.
The new legislation means major changes for both vendors and consumers of vapor products. There are also a number of misconceptions in circulation as these changes take effect. Here’s what N.C. residents should know about the new legislation, vaping rates across the nation and more.
House Bill 900, which fully went into effect July 1 after the end of a 60-day grace period, modified N.C. law to make illegal sales of nicotine vapor products not listed on a newly-created registry.
Almost 900 disposable vapes remain on the new registry of approved vape products in N.C., which is available on the NCDOR website. The registry includes many flavored vape products, but bans the sale of certain popular brands such as Elf Bar, Geek Bar and Lost Mary.
Though marijuana is not technically legal in the state, a legal loophole allows cannabis products manufactured with cannabinoids other than the illegal THC-9 to be sold in N.C. stores. HB 900 does not affect the sale of THC vapes or other cannabis products in N.C.
Most recent data from the American Lung Association in 2022 showed that N.C. had a statewide rate of 7.9% when it came to adult residents who used tobacco vapor products. This shows that N.C. residents used vapor products at a higher rate than the national average of roughly 6% according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The association also showed that, as of 2021 data, 23.8% of N.C. youths used tobacco vapor products – despite the fact that the legal age to purchase tobacco products is 21.
Most recent data published on adult vaping by CDC in January 2025 was collected between 2019-2023. Key findings included:
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
