Illinois banning vapes resembling school supplies, online sales for customers under 21

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois will ban vaping companies from advertising, marketing, and promoting electronic cigarettes that look like school supplies starting January 1.

The law will prohibit manufacturers from marketing e-cigs that are likely to cause a parent, legal guardian, teacher or other person to mistake the vape for a common item.

This comes as lawmakers have often heard complaints from teachers about students using vapes that look like highlighters, erasers, and markers.

E-cigarettes — Illinois Senate Democrats provided examples of electronic cigarettes that look like highlighters.

"I've talked to young people that use them and said they first tried at a party because a friend had one and they thought it would be fun, and everybody else was doing it," said Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). "But it does build an addiction, and that's what we're trying to get in front of."

Senate Bill 2662 will be enforced by the Illinois Department of Revenue, Attorney General's office and local law enforcement.

A separate law will ban electronic cigarette companies from allowing anyone under 21 to order vaping products online or by mail, excluding distributors and retail stores.

Senate Bill 3098 will be enforced by the Illinois Department of Revenue and local law enforcement.

"It's important for us to continue to put guardrails in place to prevent kids from easily getting and accessing vapes and e-cigarettes," said Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). "We have to do what we can to protect our youth from this high risk to their health."