Attorney General issues warning to stop selling vaping products aimed at kids

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office is sending out thousands of letters to smoke shop retailers warning them to stop selling deceptive vaping products.

A gaming vape device is exactly what it sounds like: A vaping with built-in games. And it's just one of the products the Attorney General is looking to crack down on that they say breaks the law by advertising to kids.

Attorney General Keith Ellison says some of the products are indistinguishable from everyday highlighters and other school supplies.

"Cherry, lime, soda, banana, taffy, you know, just stuff like that," Ellison explains. "Vapes that look exactly like school supplies for middle schoolers, smartphones."

Ellison says once the word is out about the rules violations will cost retailers up to $25,000 per device sold.

State law prohibits tobacco products to advertise to children yet new products like "high light" disguise themselves as everyday school supplies. And that makes it easier for students to smuggle devices into school.

Mason Schultz is a senior at Mahtomedi High School who says he's seen the damage vaping can do up close.

"I've seen these all in my school, I've seen these all, every single one of them," Schultz says. "It's not new. Teachers can't recognize them and it's just assisting kids like me in vaping, using electronic cigarettes."

Ellison says the goal is voluntary compliance but said his office will prosecute businesses choosing to violate the law.