Shopify told merchants on its platform to remove all vape products from their online stores, according to a notice seen by Reuters and confirmed by the company. Merchants had until July 8 to pull all e-cigarette products or risk suspension or store termination, per Shopify’s June 24 notice citing changes in legal restrictions on electronic nicotine delivery systems. Pressure from a coalition of U.S. state and city law enforcement drove the change, including attorneys general in California, Illinois, and Arizona, over widespread illegal vape sales on Shopify-hosted sites. Shopify’s ban covers all vape products, not just illegal ones, and applies globally, while the same coalition has also pressed other companies including Mastercard.
