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Federal ban on flavored vape cartridges goes into effect

Both anti-tobacco advocates and vape shop owners say the regulation won't have the intended effect.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vaping Studio in Hopkins has built its business abound flavored vape juice.

"If a full-flavor ban went into effect, we'd be done. Overnight," said general manager Josh Hassing.

A new federal ban on flavored e-cigarette cartridges, aimed at stopping vaping or "Juuling" among teens goes into effect at 12:00 a.m. Thursday. 

But Hassing says it won't affect their store.

"Anything we sell here in the store is exempt," he said.

That's because the ban addresses pre-filled cartridges, which the company Juul has already stopped making.

Vape juice for refillable products is still legal.

That's one thing Laura Smith of ClearWay Minnesota wants to change.

"We have a bill in the House to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products that would really close all these loopholes," Smith said.

Smith says the new federal change is one step, but teens are already utilizing loopholes to keep on vaping.

Hassing argues that the legislature should instead regulate the amount of nicotine inside products to help curb teen use. They market their products to adult smokers who want to quit.

"They're able to taper down one or two milligrams a week," he said.

One thing they all agree on, is that it's important to keep the products out of kids' hands.

In December - the age to buy tobacco products was raised to 21 nationwide. But Minnesota lawmakers still want to pass a state law - so local authorities can enforce it.

RELATED: FDA raises federal minimum age to buy tobacco to 21

RELATED: St. Louis Park votes to ban the sale of vaping products

RELATED: Trump plan to curb teen vaping exempts some flavors

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