Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a bipartisan group of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in urging Shopify Inc. to take stronger measures against merchants using its platform to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes. The coalition sent a letter to Shopify, which is based in Ottawa, Canada, describing concerns that current enforcement efforts are not sufficient.
Shopify’s existing policies prohibit unlawful activities on its platform. The company has previously removed some e-cigarette sellers after being notified by the California Attorney General’s Office earlier this year. However, the coalition argues that these actions have not fully addressed the problem and calls for a more comprehensive approach.
The letter states: “E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and are therefore subject to strict regulation. States in the coalition, as well as local governments within the states, have passed laws to mitigate the sale of e-cigarettes.”
Federal law requires that every new tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, must be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it can be marketed or sold in the United States. To date, only 39 e-cigarette products have received FDA approval, all limited to tobacco and menthol flavors. Most e-cigarettes available from online sellers lack FDA approval and are considered “adulterated.” Federal regulations prohibit their distribution through interstate commerce.
The coalition’s letter requests a meeting with Shopify representatives to discuss potential solutions for preventing illegal sales on its platform.
Attorney General Clark joins colleagues from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin; as well as officials from the City of New York and Puerto Rico; in supporting this initiative.
