Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez has joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in urging Shopify to take stronger action against merchants selling illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes, through its platform. According to a report by Maui Now, the coalition sent a letter to Shopify, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive solution to address the issue (Maui Now, 2025). Shopify, headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, is a multinational e-commerce company that provides a platform for entrepreneurs, retailers, and global brands to sell online and in person.
The company's policies already prohibit merchants from using its services for unlawful activities, and Shopify has previously terminated e-cigarette sellers that were brought to its attention by the California Attorney General's Office (California Attorney General's Office, 2025). However, despite these efforts, merchants continue to use Shopify's services to sell illegal e-cigarettes, prompting the coalition to request a meeting with the company to collaborate on a comprehensive solution.
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth, and are therefore subject to strict regulation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
The vaping industry has experienced rapid growth recently, with e-cigarettes becoming increasingly popular among youth and young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarette use among high school students increased by 135% between 2017 and 2018, with over 3. 6 million middle and high school students using e-cigarettes in 2018 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). This trend has raised concerns among public health officials, who warn that e-cigarettes pose significant health risks, particularly for youth.
The nicotine in e-cigarettes can harm adolescent brain development, and e-cigarettes have been linked to a range of health problems, including respiratory issues and cardiovascular disease.
In response to these concerns, governments around the world are taking steps to regulate the vaping industry. In the United States, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established rules for the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes, including a requirement that manufacturers submit their products for review before they can be sold on the market (Food and Drug Administration, 2020). However, despite these regulations, e-cigarettes remain widely available, and many youth and young adults continue to use ← →
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