5 Ways to Fight Back Against Vaping Regulations
With the PMTA deadline approaching and flavor bans on the table in several states, we laid out five ways adult vapers could make their voices heard. The details of the fight have changed since then, but the playbook still works.
Short version: Register to vote, follow a consumer advocacy group, do your homework, contact the right lawmakers, and share your own experience politely and clearly.
1. Register to vote
Lawmakers pay attention to people who vote. Many adult vapers told us they felt ignored by both parties. Our answer: politicians may not be talking about your issue because they haven’t heard from you, and registering is the first step to changing that.
2. Join a consumer advocacy group
We pointed readers to CASAA, the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, which offered free membership, state-by-state updates and calls to action with pre-written emails you could personalize. Whatever group you follow, keep your messages kind and courteous. Lawmakers rarely respond well to attacks.
When a legislator writes back, thank the supportive ones. If they’re opposed or on the fence, stay calm and treat the reply as the start of a conversation.
3. Do your homework
Your story matters, but facts add weight. Rely on primary sources such as the FDA’s tobacco products site, and cite where your information comes from. Stay accurate: public-health bodies disagree on the details of vaping, and overstated claims undercut your message.
4. Contact the right lawmakers
Your US senators and representative work on national issues in Washington, DC. Your governor and state legislators are the ones who write state flavor bans and vaping restrictions, so they’re often the most important people to reach. Many keep local offices and will meet with constituents who ask.
5. Share your story
Personal experience can win over a legislator when statistics don’t. The vaping world grew out of small businesses and adults from every walk of life, and lawmakers need to hear from those people directly.
Where things stand now
The PMTA deadline arrived in September 2020, and many products are still under FDA review. Federal law has set the minimum age for all tobacco and vaping products at 21 since December 2019, the PACT Act (2021) changed how vapes can be shipped, and flavor rules vary by state and city and change often. Our overview of vaping regulations by state is a good place to check before you reach out.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.