CUSP, Mayors Bring Illegal Vape Discussion to U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting
For the second year in a row, CUSP led an engaging discussion at the U.S Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting, about the harm that illegal vapes and the shops that sell them are bringing to our communities, and what America’s mayors are doing about it.
The panel discussion titled “Closing the Illegal Vape Gateway to Crime” at the 94th Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California was led by CUSP Chairwoman Mary Bono, and featured the leadership of Mayors Danny Avula (Richmond, VA), Jane Castor (Tampa, FL), and Dan Rickenmann (Columbia, SC), as well as Rich Marianos, the executive director of the Tobacco Law Enforcement Network. It focused on the rising number of states that are passing laws to help tackle this problem and the critical role mayors play in the coordination of enforcement, awareness, public education and federal efforts. The panelists also urged the mayors in the room to join in the urgent call for the FDA to release the $200 million allocated for enforcement efforts.
Mayor Avula discussed his city’s successful ‘Operation Vaporize’ enforcement initiative, which used various tools, including local ordinances and permitting laws to shut down these types of shops. “Our communities have been asking for more attention, for stronger enforcement, and for us to act in ways to curb these illegal activities. And absolutely our communities deserve that,” he has said on why he prioritized this issue. Additionally, after prioritizing enforcement against bad-actor vape shops, the city of Richmond saw armed robberies decrease.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks about her city’s enforcement efforts against illegal vape shops (photo credit: U.S. Conference of Mayors)
Mayor Castro highlighted how vape shops in Tampa had become crime centers for more than just the sale of illegal vapes. She explained to the room how stores that sell illegal vapes in Tampa, and in communities across the country, are often cash businesses that facilitate other forms of criminal activity including the sale of narcotics, possession of unregistered firearms, and other contraband.
Mayor Rickenmann has been a leader in helping to pass a registry law in his state earlier this year, and shared how it will significantly strengthen enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes. With that new law, South Carolina became the 15th state with a registry law, joining 14 other states, including Arkansas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, which all passed similar legislation in 2025.
CUSP Chairwoman Mary Bono leads a discussion among mayors (photo credit: U.S. Conference of Mayors)
In 2025, the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection had stopped more than 6 million in unauthorized e-cigarettes worth over $120 million from entering the country. Just a few weeks ago on May 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protectionannounced the impactful results of Operation Red Mist, a joint operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which seized more than 18 million units of illegal vapes worth more than over $175 million. The $200 million already allocated for state and local enforcement can support this important work.