Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 762 on September 28, putting an expiration date on disposable vapes in America’s largest market. California’s disposable vape ban is now law, and the phaseout is already on the calendar.
The Phaseout Dates
The rollout happens in two stages. Starting January 1, 2027, importing or manufacturing covered disposable nicotine devices for sale in California becomes prohibited. No new disposable vapes will be allowed to enter the state’s supply chain after that date.
Beginning January 1, 2028, selling, distributing, or offering these devices for sale becomes prohibited statewide. That is the date the products actually disappear from store shelves. The law creates a transition period for otherwise lawful inventory, but it does not make an already prohibited product legal through 2027.
What the Ban Covers
AB 762 targets disposable nicotine devices: the single-use vapes with batteries that get thrown away with the device. Rechargeable and refillable systems are not covered by the ban. For vapers who want to stay ahead of the change, now is the time to explore alternatives. Our guide to the best disposable vapes covers the current market, and switching to a reusable device with replaceable pods is the most future-proof move in California.
Products that hold federal marketing authorization sit in a different category. You can check which products the FDA has actually approved in our FDA authorized vapes list for 2026.
What Retailers Should Do
For store owners, the practical challenge starts now. Inventory planning matters more than ever. A large order might look attractive today, but leftover stock becomes a serious problem when the store can no longer offer it for sale. Retailers should calculate their sell-through timeline, begin diversifying into refillable systems and replacement pods, and train staff on the legal definition of banned versus legal devices.
Why It Matters
California is the country’s biggest vape market, and what happens there sets the tone nationally. Manufacturers will now pivot product lines, other states may copy the two-stage phaseout model, and millions of vapers will need to switch formats within the next two years. The disposable era in California has an official end date.
Source: Respect My Region