By Dalton Whitfield
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News) --- On January 1st, A new federal law was implemented in Mississippi. This new law prevented anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing tobacco products. This new was named the T21 Law. This new law also covered vapes and vape accessories. But as local businesses have been adjusting their businesses, they have also noticed a change in profit.
“I would say its negatively affected sales for sure, we haven’t seen too bad a dip really, but we’re in a college town so it’s going to affect us,” said Christopher Stoke, a local vape shop owner.
Although the law was implemented at the start of the year, Tobacco shop owners were aware of the new law. “We were warned of it. I mean, pretty much every forum we follow, every news story we follow had said something about it and you know Trump was the first to come out about it.” said Stoke.
Stoke also voiced his frustrations when it came to the new law and how they’ve handled their businesses since the new law has been put into place. “I’ve been surprised at how little we’ve had to turn people away, but I think the main part of that is other shops not following the T21 law.”
The T21 law was introduced as an effort to prevent teen smoking after vaping started to be popular with teens.