LAFAYETTE — In July, state regulations took effect on e-liquid manufacturers that vape stores worried might kill the vaping industry.
The law required that e-liquids sold by Indiana vendors be manufactured at facilities meeting strict new security guidelines. Only one company in Indiana meets the requirements to provide security to manufacturers: Mulhaupt's Inc. in Lafayette.
That's limited the number of products sold at vape stores across Indiana from the hundreds to precisely seven.
Although area vape stores didn’t take as big a hit as they anticipated, vendors and industry experts say they notice the development of concerning new trends within the vaping industry.
“We have a lot of customers that will go over to Illinois to buy juice,” said Steve Cuzzort, co-owner of the Fog Foundry in Lafayette.
His business partner, Chad Myers, said people seem to be taking matters into their own hands.
“You have a lot more DIY juice makers,” Myers said. “The issue with that is you don’t know how they’re making it or what they’re putting in there.”
'Sucks for Indiana'
Vaping is an alternative to smoking where users inhale vapor generated from a battery-powered device. The vapor is produced from e-liquid, often referred to as “juice,” which contains nicotine and flavoring.