Key Points: 

• Pennsylvania’s vaping industry provided more than $893 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 3,751 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Pennsylvania exceeded $19.8 million in 2016.

• As of October 4, 2019, PDH has reported nine cases of vaping-related lung illness, including one death. PDH noted in August, 2019 that “most” patients reported vaping THC. PDH earns a D for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2017, 23.7 percent of Pennsylvania high school students reported using vapor products at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey. There is no information on frequent and/or daily use. More data is needed.  

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

• Pennsylvania spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Pennsylvania dedicated only $15.5 million on tobacco control, or less than 1 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.