What’s the Legal Age to Buy a Vape?

According to a federal law passed in 2019, individuals must be 21 years of age or older to purchase vapes or vaping products in the United States. Most other countries permit the sale of these products to individuals 18 years of age or older.

A Brief History of Vaping in the U.S

Despite its relatively recent surge in popularity, vaping has been around for a long time. [1] A patent for the first electronic cigarette was issued to a man named Joseph Robinson in the year 1930. The first modern e-cigarette wasn’t developed until 1965. In 1979, Phil Ray began commercializing e-cigarettes, selling them to major retailers in the United States. It was around this time when the term “vape” was first introduced.

In the early 2000s, vaping started to ramp up. A pharmacist in Beijing invented the first “successful” e-cigarette in 2003. Three years later, e-cigarettes came to America. Many people start to view vaping as a safer alternative to smoking or a smoking cessation tool. In 2008, the World Health Organization debunked these myths and forced retailers to remove any such claims from product packaging.

Tobacco 21 Law

On December 20, 2019, a federal law called Tobacco 21 was passed. [2] Also referred to as T21, this law prohibits the sale of tobacco products, cigarettes, vapes, and e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 21. In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the final rule to retailers along with instructions to verify the age of all individuals under the age of 30 attempting to purchase these products by photo ID.

Tobacco products included in the under-21 ban include: [3]

• Cigarettes
• Smokeless tobacco
• E-cigarette products (i.e., e-cigs)
• Liquid nicotine, e-liquid, or vape juice
• Vape cartridges
• Vape pens
• Non-nicotine vapes
• Cigars
• Pipe tobaccos
• Hookah tobacco

Previously, the law allowed people 18 and older to purchase these products. Some states have different laws regarding the purchase of vapes, but federal law supersedes state law. Thus, it’s illegal to purchase a vape anywhere in the United States if you’re no 21 or older.

State Laws for Teen Vaping: Legal Ages for Use and Purchase

State laws regarding youth access to vapes and e-cigarettes might differ from the federal law. Still, federal law trumps these state laws. Still, states that still have laws contradicting this federal law include: [4]

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Missouri
• Montana
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Wisconsin

Some states have laws that match the federal T21 law but may include exceptions, such as allowing active duty military under the age of 21 to purchase these products. Specific states with exceptions to the law include: [5]

• Arkansas
• California
• Florida
• Maryland
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Virginia

Vaping Laws in Other Countries Outside the U.S.

Since federal U.S. law applies to all states, whether or not they have other laws on the books, people under the age of 18 would have to leave the country to legally purchase these products. Countries that allow vaping products to be sold to individuals under the age of 21 include:

• Canada
• Australia
• United Kingdom

Health Risks of Vaping

According to the CDC, there is no safe use of e-cigarettes or vapes. [6] E-cigarettes pose serious harm on two different fronts. First, the nicotine in many of these products is both harmful and highly addictive. Secondly, the aerosol and flavoring used in vaping products present additional health risks, including the risk of developing cancer. Some of the other health risks of vaping include:

• Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals
• Exposure to heavy metals like lead
• Lung damage and disease
• Respiratory problems
• Seizures
• Accidents and injuries related to vape fires and explosions
• Mental health concerns
• Danger to pregnant women and unborn babie

Dangers to Youth

There’s a reason governments impose restrictions on the sale of vapes and vaping products to youth. These products are harmful to everyone, but they may be particularly dangerous for young people. The CDC points out specific risks that these products pose to young adults, including: [7]

• Disruptions to brain development for adolescents and young adults under the age of 25
• Damage to brain regions involving learning, attention, mood, and impulsivity
• Increased risk of nicotine addiction compared to adults
• Increased risk of smoking cigarettes in the future
• Increased risk of future drug abuse and addiction
• Increased risk of seizures
• Increased risk of mental health conditions such as depression

How to Quit Vaping

If you vape and you’re under the age of 21, you may face increasing barriers to accessing vape products. Aside from legal concerns, there are other reasons to quit vaping as well, including physical and mental health risks.

Many high school students say that they started vaping to relieve stress, but vaping can actually exacerbate stress and cause other mental health concerns.[8] People who quit vaping report lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Because nicotine is so addictive, it can be difficult to quit vaping once you’ve started. Here are some tips to stop vaping and embrace a healthier future: [9]

• Make a list of personal reasons you have for no longer vaping.
• Make a commitment to yourself to stop vaping. Consider it an act of self-love.
• Set a date to quit. Give yourself the time you need, but don’t set a date too far in the future. Avoid dates that might conflict with other stressful events on your calendar.
• Learn your triggers so that you can begin avoiding them as you get closer to your quit date.
• Learn about the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting, such as intense cravings, so you’ll know what to expect.
• Make a list of things you like about yourself that are unrelated to vaping.
• Tell your friends and family about your plan to quit and ask for their support.
• Ask your doctor or therapist for strategies to stop vaping.
• Create distance from yourself and anyone in your life who doesn’t support your decision to quit.

The sooner you quit vaping, the better. Not only will you feel freer and more empowered, but your body will begin repairing itself from the harm caused by vaping products. As soon as you stop using e-cigarettes, you’ll start moving towards a healthier life.

Vaping Prevention & Substance Use Treatment

How can we prevent children from vaping? This is a pressing question for many parents, legislators, and medical professionals across the country. The use of e-cigarettes and vapes among high school students is a growing concern.

One of the major risks of using these products at a young age is the risk of becoming addicted to even more harmful substances in the future. It’s important for parents and young people to be aware of the serious risks of vaping and to seek treatment if necessary.