HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York is urging Shopify to take far stronger steps to stop illegal e-cigarette sellers from using its platform, warning that unregulated vape sales continue to flood communities and target young people.
“Illegal e-cigarette sellers are targeting our communities — especially our children — and they’re using mainstream e-commerce platforms to do it. That has to stop,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. He added that while Shopify has taken enforcement actions in the past, “the scale of this problem demands a stronger and more coordinated approach.”
In a letter sent to Shopify Inc., the coalition detailed ongoing concerns that merchants are still using the platform to sell illicit tobacco products despite policies prohibiting such activity. While Shopify has previously removed some sellers, states argue that illegal vendors continue to surface — and a large-scale, cooperative enforcement effort is overdue.
The attorneys general identified 29 illegal e-cigarette websites currently hosted on Shopify, noting that the list is not exhaustive. An additional exhibit identifies more than 200 other websites known to sell unlawful tobacco products.
The coalition requested a meeting with Shopify to develop a coordinated strategy and offered to help identify illegal sellers if the company enters a formal cooperative agreement. The goal, officials said, is to ensure that only legal, regulated tobacco and nicotine products are sold online.
E-cigarettes remain tightly regulated due to their addictive nature and health risks, particularly among youth. Many states and local governments have enacted aggressive laws aimed at stopping illicit vape sales.
In Pennsylvania, the Attorney General’s Office is backing House Bill 1425, sponsored by Rep. Jeanne McNeil, which would establish a statewide directory of lawful Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. Modeled after the state’s existing Tobacco Product Directory, the ENDS Directory would list federally compliant products authorized for sale, making enforcement against illegal sellers more effective.
Alongside Pennsylvania, the letter was co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York. Other signatories include the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
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