Key Points: 

• Missouri’s vaping industry provided more than $475 million in economic activity in 2018, while generating 2,253 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Missouri exceeded $6 million in 2016.

• As of November 26, 2019, MDHSS has reported 36 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses. MDHSS does not include information on substances vaped. MDHSS earns a D for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2017, only 39.9 percent of Missouri high school students reported using vapor products on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey. There is no information on frequent and/or daily use. More data is needed.  

• Only 4 percent of FDA retail compliance checks in Missouri resulted in sales of e-cigarettes to minors from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

• Missouri spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Missouri dedicated only $48,500 on tobacco control, or less than 1 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.