The “Vapocalypse” Has Begun

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The news that New York and Michigan will ban most flavored e-liquids used for vaping, along with the Trump Administration’s plans to do the same nationwide, have some vaping enthusiasts stocking up on flavors like Dinner Lady Lemon Sherbet and Aqua Sweet Cereal Milk. 

According to CNN, the motivation for this vape stockpiling is similar to people who load up on weapons amid anticipated challenges to the Second Amendment.

Corinne Gaines, 30, of Maryland, has invested $100 on an assortment of fruity flavors like Apple Twist and Amazing Mango, an amount that should last her about eight months. She decided to stock up because of her health.

“I’ve gotten sinus infections and walking pneumonia from smoking cigarettes,” she said. “I tried to quit many times using nicotine products, such as the patch and gum, and was never able to do so until I started vaping. I have never gotten sick from vaping. I believe the Trump Administration’s ban on flavored e-liquids and cartridges is ridiculous and unnecessary.”

Gaines was one of a dozen people who has shared photos of their hauls on Reddit’s vaping forum during the past two weeks. The photos included one from a 29-year-old man from Georgia, who has stockpiled 400 milliliters so far thanks to a sale he spotted and another from a Nebraska man who spent $75 on 400 milliliters of nicotine-flavored juice that should last four months.

“It’s a moral imperative to disobey unethical laws, and they’re going to fight and not relapse back to smoking,” said Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association. “These are the type of hardcore former smokers, who if they can’t access nicotine in a way that they enjoy, are heavily at risk to going back to smoking.”

While the link between cigarettes and lung cancer has been well documented, information on vaping’s health consequences is nascent. A recent outbreak of a vaping-related illness in the U.S. has left hundreds sick and some dead. As of September 19, there have been 530 cases of lung injury from vaping reported from 38 states and one U.S. territory. Vaping reportedly has accounted for seven deaths in six states, but cigarette smoking will account for roughly 480,000 deaths this year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Mike Helms, firearms historian, suspects that the proposed bans may lead to a rise in black market vape flavors and accelerate stockpiling. This sort of acceleration has been well documented in the firearms community. Speaking on the matter, Helms stated, “Bans often inspire a knee-jerk reaction from the people they affect the most.”

Compliance and regulations Consumers Product availability Inventory management Merchandising Receiving products Replenishment Social media Tobacco