North Carolina: Henderson County Restricts Vape Shop Locations

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North Carolina Vape Law

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina has voted to require new vape and tobacco shops to be located at least 5,000 feet—nearly a mile—from any school. The decision, made on November 20th, came after the board heard from alarmed parents and public health experts about the proliferation of these stores and their impact on youth.

During a public comment period, multiple speakers raised concerns, specifically referencing a vape shop that had opened near Hendersonville High School. Julie Huneycutt, director of the Hope Coalition, a nonprofit fighting substance abuse, stated the store’s signs seemed to be “beckoning our youth.” The Hope Coalition estimated in 2023 that over 1,800 students in Henderson County schools were vaping.

Lani Callison, a regional tobacco prevention manager for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted the scale of the issue, noting that “one in four high school students vape.” She described the current market as the “wild, wild west,” with thousands of vape flavors and various hemp-derived products like Delta-8, THC-A, and kratom being sold, often marketed to young people via social media. Callison pointed to legal loopholes, such as the 2018 federal Farm Bill and an FDA enforcement policy that omits disposable products, which have allowed this market to flourish.

While acknowledging that a new North Carolina law signed by Governor Roy Cooper will limit vape sales to products listed on a state directory by May 2025, Callison noted that state-level efforts to raise the purchasing age from 18 to 21 to match federal law have faced strong opposition from tobacco lobbyists. Following the meeting, Commission Chair Rebecca McCall clarified that the new 5,000-foot rule would not affect the existing vape shop near the high school, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Hendersonville, not the county.

Matthew Ma
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