Kroger, Walgreens Take E-Cigs Off Shelves

Popular grocer Kroger and pharmacy retailer Walgreens have announced they will no longer sell e-cigarettes, citing “the mounting questions and increasingly complex regulatory environment.”

CNBC is reporting that the two are the latest high-profile companies to make the decision, and that they will still sell regular cigarettes. Walmart said in September that it would stop selling e-cigarettes not only in its stores, but also in Sam’s Club as well, also citing “regulatory complexity.”

The electronic nicotine devices have grown very popular in the last few years, especially with teenagers, and lately have been getting more negative attention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there have been 18 deaths and around 1,000 cases of sickness through 48 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands tied to a “vaping illness.” In most of the cases, patients said they were vaping THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and not an actual e-cigarette. About 17 percent said they only used nicotine. Many of the people who are opposed to the products say they are meant to attract teenagers because of the fruity flavors offered by companies like Juul.

The FDA has called the usage of the devices an “epidemic.” The Trump administration is responding as well, and is preparing to ban flavored versions of the cigarettes. So far, Boulder, Colorado; Michigan and San Francisco have all banned flavored e-cigarettes.

Rite Aid, another grocer, has also said that it would stop selling e-cigarettes. Earlier this year, the retailer said it was going to start selling cannabidiol (CBD) products in 200 stores, as demand for the cannabis-based but non-psychoactive products continues to rise. “Rite Aid has heard from many customers about their interest in purchasing CBD products,” the company said in a statement.