Walgreens Returns to Vape Sales: What It Means for the Wholesale Vape Market
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The U.S. vape retail landscape may be shifting again as Walgreens prepares to re-enter the category. According to Bloomberg, the pharmacy chain plans to offer vaping products in about 6,000 locations nationwide. The report references unnamed Walgreens employees and confirms that FDA-authorized Juul products are expected to be part of the initial launch.
This move signals a notable shift for one of the largest pharmacy retailers in the country and reopens access to regulated vaping products for millions of adult consumers.
Limited Availability Based on State and Local Laws
While the rollout is significant, vape availability will not be nationwide. Certain Walgreens locations are legally prohibited from selling vaping products due to state or municipal regulations. For example, all Walgreens stores in New York State are excluded because local law does not allow pharmacies to sell vapes.
As a result, the program is expected to focus on regions where regulatory frameworks allow pharmacy-based vape sales, with a tightly controlled product selection centered on FDA-authorized devices.
Ownership Changes and Retail Strategy
Bloomberg reports that Walgreens was recently acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. This ownership change appears to be influencing the company’s retail strategy, with an increased emphasis on driving in-store revenue and expanding adult-oriented product categories.
Under private ownership, Walgreens is reportedly reassessing previous restrictions and prioritizing product lines that align with compliance standards while meeting consumer demand.
How Walgreens and CVS Took Different Paths
Walgreens operates more than 8,000 retail pharmacies across the United States, placing it slightly behind CVS in total store count. CVS famously removed all tobacco and nicotine products from its stores in 2014 and positioned itself as a healthcare-first retailer. That decision led CVS to become a major financial supporter of tobacco control organizations.
Following CVS’s move, public health groups increased pressure on other pharmacy chains, including Walgreens, to discontinue nicotine sales. Walgreens ultimately stopped selling vaping products in 2019 amid growing concern over youth usage and intensifying regulatory scrutiny.
The 2019 Vape Pullback Across Major Retailers
Walgreens was not alone in stepping away from vaping products in 2019. Walmart and grocery chain Kroger also removed vapes from their shelves during that period. The decision came at a time when teenage vaping rates were at their highest and public pressure on national retailers was intense.
For several years, this effectively removed mass-market access to vapes from some of the largest retail chains in the country.
Why the Market Is Shifting Again
According to Bloomberg, Kroger resumed selling vaping products in 2023 after the FDA began authorizing specific devices and youth vaping rates showed a sustained decline. Walgreens is now following a similar path by limiting its offering to products that have received FDA authorization and are intended strictly for adult consumers.
Walmart and CVS, however, have not reversed their positions and continue to prohibit vape sales across their stores.
What This Means for Vape Wholesalers and Retailers
Walgreens’ return to vape sales reflects a broader normalization of regulated vaping products within mainstream retail. For wholesalers and specialty retailers, this development reinforces several trends:
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FDA authorization is becoming a baseline requirement for large-scale retail distribution
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Compliance-focused product lines are gaining long-term stability
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Demand from adult consumers remains strong when access is restored
While Walgreens is expected to carry a narrow selection, the decision validates the category’s continued relevance in the adult nicotine market.
Final Takeaway for the Wholesale Vape Industry
Walgreens selling vapes again is less about volume and more about market direction. Large retailers are cautiously re-entering the space, guided by regulation, authorization, and shifting public perception. For wholesale distributors and vape retailers, this underscores the importance of compliant inventory, transparent sourcing, and readiness to adapt as mainstream channels reopen.
