Or is it?

Some of you may have heard, or seen, the press conference today with AG Pam Bondi and Secretary RFK Jr. announcing a massive seizure of Chinese manufactured disposable vapes. A multi-agency operation was put into play to raid distributors across the US, seizing large quantities of these “illicit vapes”. Pam Bondi and RFK Jr. have made it clear that the US government will continue its efforts in eliminating the importation and sales of these products because they believe they are directly targeting “children and military members” and funding our foreign adversaries.

Why are Pam Bondi and RFK Jr. targeting Chinese made disposables?

While the two at the helm of the operation are not solely targeting Chinese made disposable vapes, it is certainly the primary focus of their efforts. During the press conference, Bondi stated that these products contain undisclosed or untested chemicals, contain high levels of nicotine, and are targeting children. Bondi even goes as far as claiming they are sometimes laced with THC and may even be laced with fentanyl. We can all speculate on what the real reason behind this is, but for the sake of this article we will leave it at that.

The truth behind it all.

While politicians may blow things out of proportion, twist and alter the facts, and/or just plain out lie; we want to take a look at the facts behind these products based on the reasoning given at the press conference about why these products are illegal. We will agree that these products may include ingredients that are not tested or approved by the FDA. That being said, the FDA has allowed a number of “safe” ingredients and products to enter the market that are/were in fact not safe. So this part will be to the consumer's discretion as to what they wish to put into their body. Most disposable vapes contain 5% (50mg/ml) nicotine, which Bondi draws the comparison of one disposable containing the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. To her this is a dangerously high amount of nicotine, yet it is the same nicotine strength as FDA approved vaping products like JUUL. Flavors have constantly been used as a reason to outlaw vapes, and used as an example of how these products are marketed to children in the eyes of the anti-vape politician. The reality is that adults also enjoy things that taste good, and if it’s marketing to children then flavors should also not be allowed in alcoholic beverages and edible drugs. Besides the flavor topic, which has been addressed over and over, the FDA commissioner, Marty Makary also stated that youth vaping was an “epidemic” with youth vaping up to as high as 50%! I’m not sure where he got this data from, but the annual National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) shows an all-time low of youth vaping in 2024, as reported by the FDA. The results of this survey also show that among the youth population that vapes, 26.3% of them use VUSE or JUUL products, which are now FDA approved.

Results from the 2024 annual NYTS

What does this mean for the vaping consumer (you)?

If you are a disposable vaper, you may have a hard time finding the brand and flavors you enjoy moving forward. If these products are found on the market, you will most likely begin to see the price of them increase. While some companies aim to manufacture disposables here in the US, these may also be less cost effective due to material and labor costs. The recommendation would be to switch to an open pod vape system and US manufactured bottled vape juice. There are many benefits to using a pod system, and a couple of potential drawbacks.

Pros of using a pod system:

The number one benefit of open pod systems is the cost. A one-time cost of the device itself, and then a low cost (in comparison to disposable vapes) of replacement pods and vape juice. With a pod system you can choose to use different nicotine levels and nicotine types, allowing you to lower your nicotine intake and move away from sal-nic if so desired. Not only can you choose more nicotine options, but with bottle vape juice you have a much wider selection of vape juice flavors. Pod system devices come in a variety of form factors, and can be simple draw activated devices with minimal adjustment features, to advanced touch screen operated devices with full adjustability. The last major benefit to using a pod vape system is that it is more environmentally friendly and produces a lot less waste since you are only throwing out the used pod when it needs to be replaced, and the juice bottle when it is empty.

Cons of using a pod system:

The drawbacks to a pod system are mostly based on convenience and what you may have become used to from using disposable vapes. Pod systems usually have a small compact form factor, leaving the user with a 2-3ml pod for liquid. This means that you might have to refill once or twice throughout the day, depending on usage. Another drawback is the fact that the majority of the US manufactured bottled vape juice is not as sweet as the disposable vape liquid you are used to. This is actually not a con because these manufacturers avoid using the “untested” ingredients Bondi was referring to, but may result in less satisfaction if you are craving the sweetness. Lastly, the big drawback is going to be finding that all-day-vape flavor. Those of us who have been vaping for a long time know the struggle of trying a bunch of vape juice to find that one special flavor that checks all the boxes. Sometimes you get lucky and find it quickly, but sometimes it takes trying a bunch of different brands and flavors until you find it.

My personal recommendation for Pod Vape Systems:

If you are new to pod systems, I would recommend the Vaporesso XROS 5 Mini. The XROS 5 Mini is a compact and easy to use device that offers draw activated firing, adjustable airflow control, and a 1500mAh battery. The XROS 5 Mini is compatible with the hugely popular XROS pods, which offer 3ml capacity with a flavor delivering mesh coil.

If you are looking for something more versatile, or for something with a greater vape juice capacity and larger battery capacity, then the Vaporesso LUXE XR MAX 2 is the one to choose. The LUXE XR MAX 2 features a whopping 3200mAh battery, selectable power output up to 80W, and a large TFT screen packed into a compact housing. The LUXE XR MAX 2 can be easily be used as a pod system, though it is actually a pod mod, by simply using the included MTL pod over the included DTL pod. These LUXE XR Pods use the Vaporesso GTX coils, which are also compatible with the VooPoo PNP coils. You may also choose to simplify it even more by using the LUXE X Pods which have a built in coil.