3 Vape Store Licenses Suspended For Flavor Ban Violations

OLYMPIA, WA — The state suspended licenses for vapor retailers in Puyallup, Spanaway, and Vancouver Wednesday for failing to comply with Washington's emergency ban on the sale of flavored products. The Liquor and Cannabis Board said enforcement officers visited the three stores and issued repeated warnings after finding the products still available after the ban was enacted on Oct. 10.

The board said officers have visited 3,100 businesses and found the products for sale at 28 of them. Of those 28, just three still failed to comply after multiple visits. According to the WSCLB, the suspended businesses have 24 hours to prove they have complied with the law, or face an extended suspension.

Retailers with suspended licenses

Vapor City & Smoke - 13105 Meridian East, Suite 103 (Puyallup)
Vapor City & Smoke - 16802 Pacific Avenue South (Spanaway)
Fuse Vapor Distribution Inc. - 303 NW 76th Street, Suite A (Vancouver)

The state Board of Health enacted a 120-day emergency ban on flavored vaping products in October, following an executive order from Gov. Jay Inslee. In November, health officials expanded the emergency rule to include vapor products containing vitamin E acetate, a chemical found in lung samples collected by the CDC.

21 vaping-linked lung injuries have been reported in Washington since April.

State lawmakers are expected to introduce permanent regulations and seek more strict controls on vaping when the legislative session begins in January.