Flavored Vapes, Menthol Cigarettes Could Soon Disappear in Illinois
Flavored vapes and menthol cigarettes have been under fire for years, but now, it seems like both could be in serious jeopardy of being around in the state of Illinois much longer.
A new bill in the Illinois Senate would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products across the state. This would be an all-encompassing ban, including menthol cigarettes and flavored vapes. The conversation about banning menthol cigarettes goes way back to the Obama administration, and flavored vapes have long been controversial due to their appeal to young kids.
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About New Illinois Smoking/Vaping Legislature:
SB3148 would create the Flavored Tobacco Ban Act in Illinois. The act would prohibit retailers and distributors from selling/possessing flavored products with the intent to sell them.
Current and previous vapers (such as myself) might remember when JUUL ended the sale of their flavored pods. As someone who used JUUL at the time, I thought that would be the end of flavored nicotine pods and liquids. Not quite. But this time, things could be different in Illinois.
The ban would cover a swath of nicotine products, including:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Wraps
- Vape liquids
- Any product that uses flavoring or packaging that suggests a flavor
That could mean even Swisher Sweet and White Owl cigarillos could be completely unavailable in Illinois.
How the Bill Would Be Enforced and When It Could Take Effect:
Per My Stateline, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be tasked with enforcing the rules of SB3148. The Department of Revenue could suspend retailer and distributor licenses for any violations of the law. Penalties range from a three-day suspension (first offense) and could rise as high as 30 days for repeat violations.
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If passed, the bill could take effect at the midpoint of the calendar year (June 1st, 2026). Read more about the potential of this Illinois bill on My Stateline's website.