California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York co-led a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general in urging Shopify Inc. to take stronger measures against merchants selling illegal e-cigarettes and other tobacco products through its platform. The letter calls for cooperation between Shopify and U.S. states to address the persistent sale of unapproved vaping products.
Key Points
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25 attorneys general signed the joint letter demanding that Shopify clamp down on illegal e-cigarette sales.
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29 illegal websites hosted on Shopify were identified.
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An additional 200+ websites selling illegal tobacco products were listed in the annex.
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The coalition proposed a cooperation framework with Shopify to help identify violators.
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The move follows a series of multistate lawsuits and settlements led by California AG Rob Bonta.
Coalition Letter Calls for Stronger Oversight by Shopify
November 25, 2025 — According to a press release by the California Department of Justice (California DOJ). California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York co-led a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general in sending a letter to Shopify Inc., urging the company to take stronger action against merchants using its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes.
Shopify’s Current Policies and Ongoing Challenges
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify describes itself as a commerce platform enabling online and in-person sales for businesses. While Shopify already prohibits illegal activities and has previously terminated e-cigarette sellers flagged by California authorities, the coalition argues that a more comprehensive solution is needed as illegal sellers continue to operate.
Concerns Over Easy Online Access to E-Cigarettes
“Right now, e-cigarettes are far too easy to purchase online,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “We’ve acted against individual sellers before, but too many are still exploiting Shopify’s platform to sell illegal products. We’re urging Shopify to step up and help us protect public health.”
Details of the Coalition’s Requests
The coalition’s letter:
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Identifies 29 illegal vape websites hosted on Shopify.
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Includes an annex listing 200+ additional illegal tobacco websites.
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Offers to collaborate with Shopify in identifying and removing offenders.
Regulatory Background: State and Federal Oversight
E-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose significant health risks, especially to youth. In California, Senate Bill 793 (Hill, 2020) banned flavored tobacco products, while Assembly Bill 3218 (Wood, 2024) expanded enforcement powers and established the Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL), a registry of lawful tobacco products set to be published by December 31, 2025.
At the federal level, all new tobacco products must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, only 39 vape products have received authorization, limited to tobacco and menthol flavors. All unapproved products are considered adulterated, making their sale across state lines illegal.
States Joining the Effort
Joining California and New York in signing the letter were the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.
