Most disposable nicotine vape devices now banned in Texas

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - Several new Texas laws went into effect this week, among them, a ban on nearly all vaping devices.

Senate Bill 2024 took effect on Sept. 1 and it effectively bans disposable e-cigarettes, or vapes, in the state.

Edgar Ramirez, the owner at Smokeex in Killeen, opened his business back in March and said the new law is devastating to his business.

“I’ve always liked this type of stuff,” said Ramirez. “I’ve never enjoyed working and I’m a family man, and this pays the bills so much easier than just working at Red Lobster like I used to.”

The product he sells the most are disposable vapes that contain nicotine, but now it’s mostly illegal.

S.B. 2024 makes it a crime to market, advertise, or sell e-cigarettes or vapes that could appeal to minors, even if they do not contain nicotine.

The cabinets that once housed the vapes Ramirez sold are now empty.

“I kept them all right here. I probably had five or six different brands in here,” said Ramirez.

Now, his vapes are in boxes because the new law bans vape brands made in China.

According to Ramirez, his distributer can’t find any vapes that aren’t made in China.

If you look online there are supposedly some vapes that are made in America but he found something different.

“Yeah, I did,” said Ramirez. “If you look on the back of it, it straight up says ‘Made in China.’ None of them are made in America at all.”

Now, the more than $4,000 he recently invested in vaping product is sitting in boxes collecting dust.

“As a smoke shop, there’s only so much that you can get and sell and I’m kind of stuck in that motion without being able to take another step forward or even backward,” said Ramirez. “So, I’m just stuck.”

The bill does not ban refillable vape devices that are made in America and contain liquid that is also produced domestically.

Violating the new law is a Class A Misdemeanor and can result in jail time and a $4,000 fine.

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