Louisiana has become a trending topic over the past year over its rules about vaping. For lovers of vape products all around the United States and beyond, it’s not surprising that you want to know if vapes are banned in Louisiana and how that affects your travels. This article will let you know the latest vaping laws, what to do if you need to vape in Louisiana and some of the best alternatives for you to ensure that your stay in this state is as drama-free as possible.

What are the vaping laws in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the state government reacted to the rising challenges of vape products usage by passing a law known as ACT 414. The law was specifically targeted at vape devices and its related product. According to the state of Louisiana legislators, the primary objectives of the new law is aimed at combating the high rate of vaping among the state population. Louisiana currently tied with Tennessee on 4th position as the state where 5.1% of adult’s population vape some days and also ranked as the 6th state where 5.3% of the population vape every day.

With this staggering percentage of vapers domiciled in Louisiana, the state government responded to the high usage of vapes and nicotine products by enacting Act 414 during the 2023 legislative session. The new law gives regulatory authorities in Louisiana the powers not only to regulate nicotine usage, but to ensure smoke shops only sell vape products with tobacco nicotine contents that have been approved by the FDA or under review. With this new reality going on in Louisiana, does that mean vaping in Louisiana is a criminal offense? Read on to find out.

Can you vape in Louisiana?

Just like every other state in the United States, vaping is allowed in Louisiana irrespective of the flavor or the flavor content. But that is all in the past since Louisiana legislators passed a new law known as Act 414. The bill, which has now become an Act was sponsored by Rep Hollis, Republican member representing Covington. The initial proposal of the original bill was aimed at increasing the tax rate on vape with the aim of reducing the numbers of vapers within the state. A huge percentage of people living in Louisiana are into vaping, but the main focus of the bill when it was sponsored was targeted at ensuring teens and high school students are priced out of the vape market. The first phase of the bill came into effect in July using taxes to increase the cost of vapes in Louisiana, but another version of the same bill later included outright ban on vape products that are not covered by the FDA. So, can you vape in Louisiana? Yes, you can. However, if you must vape, you must ensure that the vape product that you are consuming is listed on the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (LATC).

FDA and Vaping regulations in the United States

In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a first attempt to regulate the usage of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). The focus of the policy at the time was aimed at cutting the exposure of smokers to tobacco to the barest minimum. ENDS was seen as a perfect replacement for tobacco. However, by 2018, ten years after the FDA rolled its ENDS plan, the usage of vape among young people in the U.S hit a record high level. This prompted the FDA to declare the use of ENDS a pandemic among the young people. According to a data released by the CDC in 2021, adults from the age of eighteen and above are currently into taking electronic cigarette, an alternative name for vape. The data also showed that the percentage of vape user is higher among males than females. The popularity of vape users is on the rise in the U.S, but among adults from age 45 and above, vaping is at its lowest among both males and females.

What are the categories of vapes banned in Louisiana?

Vaping is allowed in Louisiana, but not all products are allowed. According to the new provisions of Act 414, the law simply states that by 1st of October, 2023, all vape manufacturers should have registered all their nicotine-oriented products and alternative nicotine products sold in Louisiana with the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. According to the state government, the law and the mandatory registration of nicotine and non-nicotine products sold within the states will enable the authorities to have a central database for FDA approved vape products. This means that if a product is not dully registered on the LATC platform, then it means such products is not legal and it automatically becomes a crime to sell them in shops or to end users in the state of Louisiana.

Can you buy elf bars in Louisiana?

If you’ve been procrastinating about stocking up on your favorite vape pens, it looks like the time to do this has finally passed. The new restrictions on vaping products in Louisiana based on the latest laws affects very popular vape brands. So, if you’re a huge fan of vapes like the Esco Bar, Puff Bar and Elf Bar, a part of the Act 414 forbids its usage within this state in the United States. These vapes are not on the approved list and that means vaping them in Louisiana could earn you heavy fines for breaking the law. However, this is not definite as the directory may be updated with these vaping products eventually.

What is a good alternative to banned vapes?

The ban on vapes in Louisiana affects flavored vapes. That means there is a way to work around this new law. A great alternative to banned flavored vapes in Louisiana is the super-value UpOX mini open pod system. This is one of the best pod systems out there for those looking to use this as an alternative to daily tobacco intake. It’s clean, minimalist and super easy to use. Also, you don’t have to worry about it being exposed while you’re out as it comes in a very discreet packaging. So, if you’re looking for options that can still help you vape when you want, here is a top choice for you.

Process of getting vape product authorized in Louisiana

For a vape to be list on the V.A.P.E directory in Louisiana, then the vape manufacturer must have meet up with the following criteria stipulated by the state law:

• The product manufacturer must be able to prove that their products has been in the U.S market since or in 2016 and that they have been in the process of registering their vape product with the FDA.
• The product since its inception has a marketing order from FDA
• The product (vape) is yet to gain a marketing order from FDA but they currently have a stay in a lawsuit.
• The product has been in the U.S market as at 2016 and they have a marketing order that is duly approved by the FDA.

Any vape manufacturing company that can prove the above are not affected by the 414 Act and their product can be legally sold within the state of Louisiana.

What does the revenue mean for Louisiana?

The Act 414 came into effect in the state of Louisiana on the 1st of July 2023. The provision of the new legislation tripled the tax imposed on vape products. Before the 1st of July 2023, the initial tax on vape was 5 cents. With the new legislation, the tax rates on vape products increased from 5 cents per millimeter to 15 cents for the same measurement. The state legislators said the increase will help them increase the salaries of troopers working in the state. That definitely looks like a worthy cause derived from the usage of vape products.

Conclusion

Act 414 is a law that the state of Louisiana is hoping it can use to roll back the scale on the consumption of vape related products within its territory. Vaping will always be allowed within Louisiana, but the state government plans on using Act 414 as a legal instrument for ensuring that the state do not become an epidemic center for vape addict, especially among its young people. In Louisiana, vaping is allowed, but to vape without breaking the law, it is best you buy vape products that are registered and approved by the state government.

The UpOX Pro is a top choice for those who want to vape within the law in Louisiana. It’s also a great alternative for tobacco products. If you are a visitor coming into Louisiana, verify from the appropriate sites to know whether the vape brand you have is approved by FDA and also listed on V.A.P.E directory of Louisiana. If the vape brand is not listed on the V.A.P.E, then don’t travel with it or vape because it is against the law.