Vape store owners fear that a possible ban on electronic cigarette aromas will force the closure of stores

CHICAGO (WLS) – The Trump administration has announced its intention to ban the sale of tobacco-free electronic cigarettes in this time of crisis.

Owners of vape stores in the Chicago area fear that the ban will bankrupt thousands of small independent stores across the country. This ban follows recent illnesses and deaths from vaping, as well as a dramatic increase in teenage use.

"About 70% of my total sales are flavored nicotine-based products, we found that when adults were trying to make the transition, the tobacco aromas were too much of a reminder of the cigarettes that they had used to to smoke, "said Reid Nuttall, owner of Cool Clouds Vapor Shop.

The owners stated that their clients were not teenagers and that the products they were selling were not the cause of recent health warnings. The owners urge the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider the ban.

"The problem is that if you eliminate flavored tobacco products, you are putting the independent steam industry back into the hands of big tobacco," Nuttall said.

Praising customers may be forced to return to the flavor of tobacco if other flavors are prohibited in the stores.

"If we do not change course, it will eliminate 70 to 80 percent of our sales," said Larry Eng, owner of Level Vape.

Some customers have indicated that they could permanently give up electronic cigarettes if flavored products were eliminated.

"For me, I have already set a goal of stopping smoking before age 35, so time is running out," said Melissa Schlesinger, a vaping customer.

Health officials hope that this ban will result in people leaving. However, vape store owners fear that former cigarette smokers will resume their old habits or turn to the black market for flavored electronic cigarettes.