CUSP Leads Panel Discussion at U.S. Conference of Mayors on Stopping Illicit Vapes from China

CUSP brought the conversation about illicit vapes and their harmful impact on communities to the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual conference in Tampa, FL.

The panel discussion, “Breaking the Supply Chain: Stopping Illicit Vapes from China,” was led by CUSP Chairwoman and former Congresswoman Mary Bono, law enforcement expert and former assistant ATF Director Rich Marianos, and Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, where they addressed the illegal tactics Chinese vape manufacturers use to sell vapes and target America’s youth. 

During the session, audience members were asking if illegal vapes are a problem in their communities. Nearly every hand in the room went up, underscoring the scale of the crisis. 

Mayor Rickenmann shared stories about how illicit vapes are flooding schools across his state, noting that bags of confiscated products have been presented at legislative hearings to help advance stricter laws in South Carolina.

Marianos, who also serves as Executive Director of the Tobacco Law Enforcement Network discussed ways that federal, state, and local governments can fight these illegal tactics and keep our communities safe.

Protecting Americans from harmful products made by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is one of CUSP’s top priorities. We must acknowledge the threat that illegal vapes from China pose to our communities and put this to rest.

The foreign threats that Americans are facing are real and growing. U.S. intelligence leaders and CUSP can agree on the assessment that the CCP is a major contributor to the threat that jeopardizes national security. CUSP urges America’s mayors to take advantage of their unique position to shut down the dangerous pipeline and protect their citizens from this foreign threat.