Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) announced that new rules governing the sale, promotion, and use of electronic cigarettes—both with and without nicotine—take effect today (August 13). The regulations, aimed at protecting public health and youth, ban vaping in all smoke-free areas, prohibit sales to minors, and outlaw all advertising and promotion. Products must be stored out of public view, with only closed displays allowed for the first two years. Violations can result in confiscation and fines, with health and customs authorities tasked with enforcement.
Tag: vape
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VOOPOO Unveils “Futuristic” ARGUS Matrix
VOOPOO launched what it calls the company’s most advanced pod device yet: the ARGUS Matrix, “a bold leap into the future of vape design and performance.”
VOOPOO says the ARGUS Matrix features the “world’s first curved full-screen display on a pod system, creating a cyber-futuristic visual experience that’s as immersive as it is stylish,” using enhanced IML film technology and dynamic lighting that mimics circuit boards.
According to the company, the Matrix delivers substance through iCOSM CODE 2.0 technology in the ARGUS Top Fill Cartridge V2, “ensuring leak-proof usage and up to 30 days of consistent flavor delivery. With a 100 mL e-liquid endurance capacity, it’s designed for convenience and longevity.” Vapers can fine-tune their experience with adjustable wattage (up to 30 W), a 1350 mAh battery, and a three-level precision airflow system that caters to both MTL and RDL users.
Fully compatible with the ARGUS Pod Family, the Matrix offers seamless cartridge switching, blending style with versatility.
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PAX Launches New Premium Flower Vaporizer
Cannabis tech leader PAX unveiled its latest innovation, the Pax Flow, a “high-performance dry herb vaporizer designed for modern consumers seeking a combustion-free smoking experience.”
“Featuring a hybrid heating system, up to six times more airflow, and a sleek, compact design, Flow delivers smoother, more flavorful vapor and easy maintenance,” the company said. The device also supports USB-C fast charging and offers customizable heat modes for personalized sessions.
Retailing at $350, Flow is now available globally in Onyx and Greenstone at pax.com and select retailers.
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Australian Study Finds Vaping Triples Quit Rate for Smokers
A clinical trial by Australia’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Center (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales found that nicotine vapes are significantly more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like gum or lozenges in helping low-income adults quit smoking.
The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, followed over 1,000 daily smokers receiving government financial assistance. Participants were randomly assigned vaping products or nicotine gum/lozenges for eight weeks, along with motivational text messages.
At the six-month mark, 28.4% of vape users had successfully quit smoking compared to 9.6% of those using gum or lozenges. However, the study also noted that 58% of quitters were still using vapes after six months, underscoring the need for ongoing cessation support to eventually wean off vaping as well.
Lead researcher Dr. Ryan Courtney said the study’s real-world design — allowing participants to choose their own vape devices and e-liquid flavors — contributed to the impressive quit rates.
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Study: Nearly 1 in 4 Young Adults in Ireland Vape
New findings from the 2024 Irish Health Survey, released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this week, revealed that nearly a quarter of adults aged 18 to 34 in Ireland are using vapes. The data found 13.6% of the young adults vaping daily and another 10% occasionally. This age group shows the highest prevalence of vaping nationwide.
The survey gathered responses from over 5,100 adults, and found 7.1% of all adults surveyed vape daily, 10% smoke tobacco daily, with the highest smoking rates among those aged 45–54 (13.3%), and 8% of adults reported using cannabis in the last year, jumping to 22% among 18- to 24-year-olds.
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Wisconsin Vape Law Sparks Federal Lawsuit Over FDA Authority
A Wisconsin trade group filed a federal lawsuit aiming to block a new state law regulating vape product sales, claiming it oversteps federal authority and threatens thousands of small businesses. Wisconsinites for Alternatives to Smoking and Tobacco (WiscoFAST) filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, challenging Wisconsin Statute 995.15, which took effect July 1.
The law empowers the Department of Revenue to fine sellers and manufacturers $1,000 per day starting September 1 if they sell vape products not authorized by the FDA. So far, only 34 e-cigarette products have FDA marketing approval.
WiscoFAST is seeking a preliminary injunction, arguing the law violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by encroaching on the FDA’s exclusive authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). They also say it breaches the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by unfairly banning some non-tobacco nicotine products.
“[The law] will strip Wisconsinites of their right to purchase the vaping products they use to stay smoke-free, while threatening to shutter 3,000 small businesses that are vital to our state’s economy,” said Tyler Hall, president of WiscoFAST. “This law disregards the FDA’s careful approach to regulating ENDS and could push former smokers back to deadly combustible cigarettes. We’re fighting to protect consumer choice and the livelihoods of thousands of Wisconsin workers.”
The American Lung Association (ALA) also disagrees with the new law, saying it likely won’t improve public health. Molly Collins, the ALA’s Wisconsin advocacy director, argued that raising the purchase age and increasing vape prices would be more effective.
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Vape Industry Seeks to Block NC Law “Backed by Big Tobacco”
Vape industry groups are urging the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to temporarily block enforcement of a new North Carolina law that could ban many e-cigarettes from the market. In an emergency filing, the groups claim the law was heavily influenced by Reynolds American Inc. and is designed to eliminate competition from vaping products that help smokers quit.
The law prohibits the sale of vapor products that lack full FDA authorization, even though many remain under scientific review. Critics say this effectively bans nearly all independent vape brands in favor of a few tobacco-owned products that have gained approval.
The plaintiffs argue the statute undermines federal regulatory authority, disrupts public health harm-reduction efforts, and was crafted to protect big-tobacco corporate interests over consumers. They are seeking an injunction to prevent what they describe as irreparable harm to small businesses and adult nicotine users seeking alternatives to smoking.
The court has yet to rule on the request.
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Minneapolis Sets $25 Minimum on Vapes in Landmark Ordinance
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance establishing a minimum price of $25 for all vaping devices, making it the first known law of its kind in the U.S. Approved at the council’s July 10 meeting, the law is expected to take effect soon, with Mayor Jacob Frey signaling his support.
The new rule extends the city’s existing tobacco pricing policies and is aimed squarely at curbing youth access to “cheap disposable vapes.” The ordinance applies to any type of electronic delivery device, regardless of whether it contains e-liquid, but excludes e-liquid bottles, prefilled pods, and accessories. Retailers must now price each vape device at no less than $25 before taxes or fees, even if sold in multipacks.
While public health advocates support the measure, local retailers may face sales losses as customers travel outside the city to avoid higher prices.
Minneapolis already has minimum prices on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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Drug-Laced Vape Ring Busted in Malaysia
Malaysian authorities, working closely with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), dismantled an international drug ring accused of attempting to smuggle 2 million doses of etomidate- and cocaine-laced e-cigarettes into South Korea. Authorities seized nearly 5,000 cartridges and thousands of packaging boxes. Etomidate, a potent anesthetic, can cause severe health risks or death when abused.
Four suspects, including the 31-year-old Singaporean ringleader, were arrested in June in Malaysia. The group allegedly aimed to distribute 20,000 liquid e-cigarettes monthly via Malaysia and other transit points. The ringleader had set up a fake headhunting business in Seoul’s Gangnam district, targeting South Korean students studying in Singapore to build a distribution network. The NIS began tracking the operation in 2023.
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Drug Gangs Hijacking Vape for Narcotics
Public safety must focus on syndicates, not legal retailers
Former Sarawak State Police Chief Datuk Dr Yusoff Nook called for a sharper distinction between drug crimes and the legitimate vape industry, following reports that investigated the widespread online sales of synthetic drug-laced vape products in Malaysia.
In the investigation, it was found that illicit vape liquids laced with dangerous substances like methamphetamine, syabu, and ketamine were being sold openly on social media and e-commerce platforms outside any regulatory reach and entirely separate from licensed retailers. These products are disguised as flavored vape, often in colorful packaging that appeals to younger consumers, and are traded via anonymous sellers through private messaging and courier services.
“These are not rogue retailers or irresponsible shop owners,” Nook said. “These are organized drug traffickers—sophisticated, transnational, and criminal in nature. They are merely using vape as a new delivery mechanism. But the issue is not with vape, the issue is drugs. At its core, this remains a drug crime, and it must be treated as such.
“The recent calls for state-level vape bans are misdirected, as they do not address the real source of harm. The investigation makes it clear: these products are not sold by licensed players. They’re sold online by criminals operating in the shadows. A state ban on vape shops won’t stop this. If anything, it punishes the visible and regulated segment of the market while doing nothing to touch the underground networks.”
Nook said that the legitimate vape industry is now governed under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which imposes strict requirements, including product registration, price approvals, and retail licensing.
“Licensed players are complying,” he said. “They are subject to inspections and oversight. The ones flooding our streets and social media with narcotic vape? They are not part of that system. They are traffickers. Let’s stop conflating legal vaping with narcotics. This is a criminal abuse of a product, not a failure of regulation or industry.”
Nook urged authorities to act with precision, using tools like the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001, stronger criminal enforcement, targeted raids, and cross-border intelligence sharing to take down these syndicates.
“This is a matter of national security,” Nook said. “Drugs are illegal. Drug trafficking is a serious crime in Malaysia. We must continue to treat it as such. We should be using every legal weapon available to take down drug networks, not redirecting blame onto products that criminals happen to exploit.
“The real danger is losing focus. If we spend time penalizing the legal market, we risk giving the illegal market room to grow. The vape industry is not the threat. Drug syndicates are. Enforcement, not prohibition, is the only real answer to this threat.”