State Vape Directory Laws Fail to Reduce Sales, Study Shows

Researchers from the CDC Foundation have determined that state e-cigarette directory laws in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Louisiana failed to achieve sustained reductions in flavored vape sales. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study shows that unapproved devices continued to reach consumers despite state-level registries designed to eliminate unauthorized products.

Retail Data Shows Fast Market Rebound

The research team evaluated retail scanner data from January 2021 through April 2025, tracking total nicotine volume sold per capita alongside changes in product inventory. The study compared the three pioneering directory states against comparable states without registry laws.

In Alabama and Oklahoma, directory laws produced no measurable effect on nicotine sales or store inventory. Louisiana initially recorded declines in both metrics after publishing its registry. However, sales rebounded within eight months and exceeded pre-policy levels, fueled by menthol cartridges and flavored disposable vapes absent from the state registry.

Unlisted Products Drive Retail Volume

By April 2025, more than half of all per-capita e-cigarette nicotine sales across all three evaluated states came from products not listed on official state directories.

While 17 states have enacted directory legislation, regulatory gaps persist. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized only 45 e-cigarette products nationwide, yet state registries routinely permit items without federal marketing orders. At the retail level, store owners continue stocking non-compliant products.

“These findings suggest e-cigarette directory laws as currently implemented are not sufficient to achieve sustained reductions in sales of flavored e-cigarettes,” said Rachna Chandora, chief program officer at the CDC Foundation.

Lead study author and health economist Fatma Romeh Ali noted that tracking real-world retail data remains essential for policymakers seeking evidence-based regulations to curb youth nicotine access.

Read more: PMTA Vape Registry Bills: Protecting Health or Big Tobacco?

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.