Rhode Island Statewide Rule
Rhode Island Flavored Tobacco and Vape Restrictions
Key Facts
- Flavored ENDS
- Banned except tobacco flavor
- Ban source
- DOH regulation (2019 order)
- Enforcement
- Division of Taxation
- Cigarette flavor ban
- Federal since 2009
- Local rules
- Some cities add limits
Summary
Rhode Island bans the sale of flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system products other than tobacco flavor through a Department of Health regulation, and enforces the federal flavored-cigarette ban through retail licensing under Chapter 44-20.
The sale, or offer for sale of, or the possession with intent to sell or to offer for sale, flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system products to consumers within the state of Rhode Island is hereby prohibited. Compassion centers and licensed cultivators registered with the state of Rhode Island department of business regulation-office of cannabis regulation under chapter 28.6 of title 21 are exempt from this provision except as to products that contain, are made of, or are derived from tobacco or nicotine, natural or synthetic.
Full Breakdown
Rhode Island prohibits the sale of flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products other than tobacco flavor through a Department of Health regulation that originated in a 2019 executive order during the vaping-illness outbreak; the Division of Taxation enforces the sales prohibition. Flavored cigarettes other than menthol have been banned federally since 2009, and Rhode Island enforces tobacco rules through its retailer-licensing scheme under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 44-20. Some municipalities, including Providence, have adopted additional flavored-tobacco restrictions on cigars and menthol products.
Violations & Penalties
Selling restricted flavored vapor products can result in license suspension, civil penalties, and seizure of inventory under Division of Taxation and Department of Health enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are menthol vapes legal in Rhode Island?
Can cities pass their own flavor bans?
Sources
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