- 9-0 ruling supports FDA's authority to block sweet-flavored nicotine products
- Over 1.6 million underage users consume unauthorized vapes annually
- Only 34 FDA-approved e-cigarette products currently legal nationwide
In a landmark decision, all Supreme Court justices affirmed regulators' power to restrict candy-flavored vaping devices targeting young consumers. The ruling maintains strict oversight on products like 'Rainbow Road' and 'Pineapple Express' that health experts blame for creating new generations of nicotine-dependent teens.
Industry analysts reveal three critical insights emerging from this legal battle. First, vape manufacturers are pivoting to tobacco-free nicotine alternatives in unregulated markets. Second, convenience stores in Texas saw 43% fewer underage sales after implementing strict ID verification systems. Third, pharmaceutical companies report 18% increased demand for smoking cessation patches since the FDA crackdown began.
California's 2022 flavor ban provides a regional success story, with middle school vaping rates dropping 27% in Los Angeles County within 18 months. This contrasts sharply with Florida's 14% youth usage rate where local enforcement remains lax.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor emphasized that manufacturers failed to prove their bubblegum-flavored products help adult smokers quit more effectively than FDA-approved therapies. 'The absence of rigorous longitudinal studies doomed their case,' explained Georgetown University law professor Miranda Cheng, who tracked the litigation.
With 87% of current underage vapers using illicit devices, the ruling pressures retailers to audit supply chains. Major pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens recently removed all non-FDA-approved vaping products nationwide – a move estimated to impact $600 million in annual sales.