Shelves sit empty next to the front counter inside Anthracite Newsstand in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Owner Ann Marie Bossard says they were once filled with vapes that are now illegal to sell across the state of Pennsylvania.
“A lot of people have come in and got those $9.99 vapes. They were cheap, and they had a lot of puffs to them, and now that we don’t, we can’t sell them anymore,” said Bossard. “It’s really hurt.”
The change comes after Act 57 officially went into effect on Monday.
Newswatch 16 spoke with State Attorney General Dave Sunday at an event at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
He spoke about the change his office has spearheaded.
“What happened is there are products out there that are illegal, and they’ve made their way into these vape shops. Young children, young children are using, they’re buying this, and they’re using it, and it’s causing severe health issues for them,” said Attorney General Sunday.
According to the attorney general’s office, all approved manufacturers of vape or e-cigarette products are listed on the law enforcement agency’s website.
Attorney General Sunday says they are not looking to target businesses, but an industry that lacks regulations.
“This entire vape registry is solely about keeping the community safe,” said Sunday.
Over the weekend, employees at stores across the area could be found throwing away hundreds of dollars in potential profit.
“In other states, you could sell the exact same vape,” said Bossard. “The exact same vape in New Jersey, Delaware, or anywhere else.”
With that revenue stream gone, Bossard says they are trying to find new ways to keep her family-owned business afloat.
“Thinking about two days a week maybe being closed and cutting the hours, and we’re trying to think of other things that we can do to bring other people in,” said Bossard.
The attorney general’s office says enforcement of Act 57 includes fines and possible business license suspensions for those found to be selling illegal products.