E-cigarettes facing new regulations starting next week

New federal regulations are set to go into effect next week involving electronic cigarettes.

Health officials say they're necessary but some local owners argue it could make their businesses go up in smoke.

Four years ago Steve Cesnick dumped his life savings into what he saw as a burgeoning business opportunity.

"My wife is a disabled veteran, hence the name Patriot Vapes," he said. "We are just a husband and wife team and this is all we got."

Admittedly the vaping or e-cigarette industry has had little to no regulation. There are differing opinions that vaping helps people quit cigarettes. The FDA says there is no evidence that it helps.

"We've seen people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s and older coming off of half a century of cigarette use," Cesnick said.

Regardless of what he thinks, the FDA will now have the final say and control over the industry.

"Come Monday no new products will enter the market," Cesnick said. "That's hardware, juice, anything related to vaping,"

The changes will be warning labels, ID'ing customers and registering products begin. Not only is it the label and package changing, but also how the vape companies sell their product. It used to be you could sample it but that's not going to happen anymore."

The American Lung Association has been calling for these regulations for years. They issued a statement on the FDA control.

"E-cigarettes are a tobacco product. the American Lung Association remains concerned about their impact on the public health, as they are now the most commonly used tobacco product by youth. As the FDA begins its oversight of these products, we will learn more about them and more safeguards will be put in place to protect the public health."

But small business owners wonder if all the new regulations at once will put them out of business.