Jerry Smith

Jerry Smith is the lead analyst at VapeTrends360, covering US vape industry news, FDA regulations, and wholesale market intelligence for retailers and distributors.

FTC Puts “Made in USA” Vape Claims on Notice: What Reign Bar, Fifty Bar and Air Factory Need to Prove

The FTC sent warning letters to seven companies on July 6, 2026 over questionable “Made in the USA” claims, including three vaping businesses behind Reign Bar, Fifty Bar and Air Factory. Here’s what the letters actually say, what the “all or virtually all” standard requires, and how vape brands should respond.

FTC Puts “Made in USA” Vape Claims on Notice: What Reign Bar, Fifty Bar and Air Factory Need to Prove Read More »

What Is 6-Methyl Nicotine (6-MN)? The New Vape Loophole Explained

QUICK ANSWER 6-methyl nicotine (6-MN), also marketed as “Metatine” or “Nixotine,” is a nicotine analog – a molecule chemically similar to nicotine but not derived from tobacco. Because U.S. tobacco law defines “nicotine” narrowly, some Chinese vape manufacturers are using 6-MN to sell products that function like nicotine vapes while arguing they fall outside FDA’s

What Is 6-Methyl Nicotine (6-MN)? The New Vape Loophole Explained Read More »

Nicotine Pouch Retail Boom: 2026 Shelf Space, Margins & Category Growth Data

Quick answer: Nicotine pouches are one of the fastest-growing categories in U.S. retail right now, driven by discreet indoor use, no vapor or device required, and a wave of favorable FDA coverage for brands like ZYN. Retailers are responding by expanding pouch shelf space, often at the expense of disposable vape facings, because pouches typically

Nicotine Pouch Retail Boom: 2026 Shelf Space, Margins & Category Growth Data Read More »

Hero banner for Vape Trends 360: vape payment processing 101 with a declined payment device, shield, and card on a dark tech background.

Vape Payment Processing 101: What Retailers Need to Know After the Crackdown

Quick answer: Vape retailers are getting flagged and dropped by payment processors more often in 2026 because the category is treated as high-risk, and platforms like Shopify have tightened restrictions on nicotine and vapor products. The fix isn’t avoidable risk — it’s using a processor built for high-risk retail, keeping merchant category codes and product

Vape Payment Processing 101: What Retailers Need to Know After the Crackdown Read More »

U.S. map color-coded by state vape flavor-ban status with a legend (Full Ban, Partial, Local Rules, No statewide ban).

2026 State-by-State Vape Flavor Ban Tracker: Quick-Reference Guide

Quick answer: As of mid-2026, California and Massachusetts enforce the strictest statewide vape flavor bans, while New York and New Jersey restrict flavored cartridges specifically. Most states have no statewide ban, though local rules can still apply. This page is a fast-lookup summary — see our full legal guide linked below for citations. Flavor policy

2026 State-by-State Vape Flavor Ban Tracker: Quick-Reference Guide Read More »