Key Points: 

• West Virginia’s vaping industry provided more than $132 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 717 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in West Virginia exceeded $4 million in 2016.

• As of December 5, 2019, WVBPH has reported 10 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses, noting that 80 percent of patients report vaping THC. WVBPH earns an A for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2017, only 2.5 percent of West Virginia high school students reported daily vapor use. More data is needed.  

• Only 2 percent of FDA retail compliance checks in West Virginia resulted in sales of e-cigarettes to minors from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

• West Virginia spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, West Virginia dedicated $0 on tobacco control, despite receiving $238 million in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.