Alaska attorney general warns more than 1,500 retailers over illegal vapes and nicotine pouches

By SUZANNE DOWNING

March 8, 2026 – Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox has sent warning letters to more than 1,500 tobacco retailers and distributors across the state, notifying them that they may be selling illegal nicotine products—many of them manufactured overseas and imported into the United States without federal authorization.

The products in question include electronic smoking devices, commonly known as vapes or e-cigarettes, as well as oral nicotine pouches. According to the Alaska Department of Law, many of these items have never received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, making their sale unlawful under federal law.

State officials say the goal of the letters is straightforward: remove unauthorized products from Alaska shelves and prevent further sales, particularly of products marketed toward young people.

“Flavored disposable vapes and nicotine pouches found in convenience stores, smoke shops, and grocery stores around Alaska are largely manufactured and imported illegally into the United States from China,” Cox said. “The companies that manufacture these products have not undergone the FDA-mandated marketing order process, so they cannot be sold in our state.”

Federal law requires manufacturers of vaping products and nicotine pouches to obtain authorization from the FDA before they can market or sell those products in the United States. The process requires companies to submit scientific evidence about ingredients, health effects, and marketing plans.

Each flavor of a product must receive its own authorization, since flavoring agents can have different health effects. If a manufacturer has not submitted its products for review or received approval, retailers are not allowed to carry them.

In the letters sent to retailers, the Department of Law asks businesses to review FDA-authorized product lists and ensure they are not displaying, selling, shipping, or distributing unauthorized products. According to the letter, only 39 vape products and 26 nicotine pouch products currently have FDA authorization to be sold in the United States.

State officials say one of the biggest concerns is the marketing of these products to youth. Many unauthorized vapes come in fruit or candy flavors designed to appeal to younger users. Some devices reportedly include built-in video games that allow users to earn virtual coins by vaping.

Packaging for nicotine pouches has also drawn scrutiny because it often resembles candy or mint containers.

“This is not accidental design. It’s marketing with a crooked intent,” Cox said.

Health officials warn that nicotine exposure can be particularly harmful to young people. Adolescents who use nicotine may develop addiction, respiratory problems, and neurological effects that can impact attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. In severe cases, young children who accidentally ingest nicotine products can suffer fatal poisoning.

“Retailers and distributors are now on notice that the Law Department takes the health of our youth very seriously,” Cox said. “We will vigorously enforce Alaska’s laws designed to protect them. Retailers and distributors must not sell or distribute e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches that have not received FDA approval.”

The Department of Law also warned consumers and businesses to dispose of these products carefully if they are removed from shelves. Many disposable vape devices contain lithium batteries that can ignite if damaged during waste handling or compacting.

The State of Alaska has already settled lawsuits against nicotine vapor manufacturers Juul and Altria for a combined $7.8 million, according to the Alaska Department of Law. Those cases were part of a nationwide wave of litigation in which states accused the companies of targeting minors with advertising that contributed to a surge in nicotine use among children and young adults. Altria agreed to pay Alaska $2 million last year, while Juul finalized a $5.8 million consent judgment announced Friday. Under those settlements, neither company admitted wrongdoing, but both agreed to marketing restrictions, including a prohibition on Juul using cartoon imagery in its advertising.

“This case took five years and a great deal of work from our public health and consumer protection teams, but it was worth it,” Attorney General Stephen Cox said in a statement in December.

Consumers who believe they may have purchased unauthorized products are advised to review proper disposal guidelines before throwing them away.

Anyone wishing to report a business that may be selling unauthorized e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches can file a complaint with the Alaska Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit online or by calling 907-269-5200.