Most vape products will become illegal in Pennsylvania after midnight deadline

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The new Act 57 is putting stores like Cool Vapes out of business. A worker told Channel 11’s Addison Albert that almost all of their products will now be illegal, and customers are upset by the change.

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Liberty, who lives near Cool Vapes, said, “I come here all the time, and now I feel like there was like no notice, and all of a sudden I just have to stock up and hope I can buy enough for forever.”

Liberty said she was shocked to see the signs covering Cool Vapes off of McKnight Road saying that Sunday would be their last day of operation.

As of midnight on Monday, Oct. 19, Act 57 is in effect, making a majority of the products on their shelves illegal. Vape products must now be approved by the state before they’re allowed to be sold. But as of now, only 6 of the 28 companies have been approved, and that limits inventory in stores like Cool Vapes.

Other signs in the store directly point the finger at Attorney General Dave Sunday, who claims Act 57 is an effort to crack down on sales of nicotine products to kids, but customers said it won’t solve the issue.

“I also think it’s kinda dumb because people are going to get their vapes regardless, like going to different states and having them shipped in. People are going to get them regardless,” said Liberty.

Manufacturers who apply for approval face thousands of dollars in new application fees, and on Friday, Dave Sunday’s team said most of the applications aren’t complete, and they are waiting for companies to follow up. For now, stores like Cool Vapes are forced to close their doors and lay off their workers

Any illegal product that stores have after the deadline is now deemed a total loss. Each illegal product that remains on the shelf after the deadline could receive a $500 fine.

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