Vape Shop in California 2024 | Best Online Vape Stores Near You

If there is a state infamous for early adopters of vaping, and equally knowledgeable, it’s California. Vaping embraced the state’s population of tech-savvy, trend-setting innovators after e-cigarettes hit the mainstream market in the mid-2000s. The state saw the rise of a powerful vaping scene in the largest cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Over the years, dozens of large-scale vape conventions have been held in California, and the industry has unofficially morphed into the centre of progress in the US in vaping hardware and innovation, with the wealthy and competitive Los Angeles market leading the charge. Heavy local regulation, without a doubt, poses a serious threat to vaping in California; nevertheless, advocates and public health watchdogs, who often seem to be at odds with each other, have helped to shape the balance between vaping as a harm reduction tool on the one hand, and the risk to youth on the other. California has one of the highest numbers of vape shops per capita, and the state lacks enacted regulations to ban online sales and could follow in the footsteps of New York, also one of the most densely populated states in the US. Vaping remains fully embedded in California’s cultural landscape for now, helped along by the state’s large, diverse and globally savvy population.

Here’s everything you need to know about the changing landscape of vaping over the past few years and, as a consumer of products such as vape pens and e-liquids, you may be wondering about the legalities of purchase. Can anyone under the age of 18 walk into any tobacco shop and buy a vape pen or bottle of e-liquid? The simple answer is no; and that’s the reality far and wide for the purchase of all tobacco products, not just cigarettes, but also consumable products such as vape pens, e-liquids and legal smoking devices. The age requirement is actually 21 years old for any and all tobacco products. This means that if you decide to buy vaping products in California, you must be 21-years of age (or over) and show an ID. You can contact your local police department to get clarification on the exact rules, although knowing your age requirement and being prepared to show ID when buying vape products will keep you out of legal trouble.

Purchasing vape products in California is quick and easy if you know the best places to go. Local California vape shops offer you quick access, the ability to demoe before you buy, along with personal service; making them an excellent option for the hands-on shopper. Utilise search terms like ‘vape shop near me’ and ‘vape store near me’ to find local shops. Alternatively, online vape shops like Vapezilla offer great variety and prices. While shopping online, look for customer reviews and do your research before making a purchase. Make sure you are shopping with a reputable store, ensure there is age verification, check out the store’s shipping and return policies. The vape shop must verify you’re 21 or older, as California state law does not allow buyers under 21, and stores are prohibited from selling tobacco-flavoured products. But don’t panic, it’s easy to get them online – just read the age and shipping regulations online before making your purchase. Stay in the loop to find offers and discounts, follow online vape shops on social media and sign up for newsletters so you don’t miss out on seasonal sales and loyalty programs. By being informed about all of these intriguing points, you’ll be ready to trade your deadliest habits here in sunny California.

Currently, there is a 12.5% Retail Sales Price excise tax on them (which changes annually, depending on what the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) determines) as well as an additional standard state and local sales tax (the standard sales tax alone can peak over 10 per cent). So, e‑cigarettes and vapes are officially considered tobacco products. In order to engage in legal e-cigarette and vaping retail, wholesale and distribution, these laws require retailers, wholesalers and distributors to apply for a licence and permit. When engaging in business in California that involves the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes, it is important to keep accurate record keeping, regularly file tax returns with the CDTFA and remit the tax to the same platform. Prop 56 upped the cigarette tax to $2.00 and the e‑cigarette tax to $2.00 with the proceeds going towards healthcare, tobacco-use prevention, research and enforcement programs. If you are a legal consumer of e-cigarettes and vapes, paying taxes is the right thing to do.

While disposable vapes are legal in the state of California, they’re not completely unrestricted. In the year of 2020, California passed a law prohibiting the sales of flavoured tobacco products, including flavoured disposable vapes, that would be distributed in retail stores and with in-person vendors. The law went into effect on the 21st of December 2022, in hopes of dissuading youths from participating in vaping, given that flavours are the primary reason why youngsters take up this smoking habit. Consumers can only ever purchase tobacco-flavoured disposable vapes, for consumption in physical stores.

Meanwhile, the sale of disposable vapes online – including flavoured products, per the legislation – can go forward, as long as it complies with certain measures, for instance, an adult-age verification before a purchase can finalise and an adult signature required upon product delivery to ensure the buyer’s age and to avoid under-age sales. These are some of the ways in which disposable vapes are responsibly sold.

If shoppers and retailers follow these rules, disposable vapes can continue to be sold and purchased in California.

It became law in 2020 but the ban was put on hold for two years following a tobacco company-funded signature-collection campaign. It was enforced on 21 December 2022. Massachusetts became the first state to enact this full ban. California is now effectively following suit. The new law, like the Massachusetts law before it, prohibits the retail in-store sale of all flavoured vapes. It also bans in-store retail sales of nicotine-free e-liquids with flavours, also known as flavourings, flavours or additives. These are often used for DIY e-liquid blending. As in Massachusetts, cannabis vapes are exempt in California. The aim of this legislation, and others like it, is to reduce smoking rates among all populations, particularly youth.

And while sales of vaping products specifically aren’t prohibited in web sales, those sales can be tricky because of California laws that require an age-verification check before a person places an order, and require an adult signature for a delivery for every such order shipped into California.