Arizona AG sues 4 Valley smoke shops accused of marketing nicotine products to minors

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing two businesses for allegedly marketing nicotine products to minors.

“They are actively drawing kids into their stores with cartoon-like advertising graffiti art styles and colorful displays that are designed to attract children,” Mayes said during a Tuesday press conference announcing the legal action.

Her office filed civil complaints against New York Smoke Shop LLC at 4040 W. Ray Road in Chandler and Pro Source, which operates three brick-and-mortar stores across the Valley.

“These are two of the business that most persistently and recklessly sell tobacco nicotine products to underage kids in Arizona,” Mayes said.

Why is Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes suing Valley smoke shops?

The four stores involved in the lawsuits allegedly sold brightly packaged tobacco items intended to appeal to minors.

“We are aware of the allegations that these shops have also sold to children as young as 13 and that they are selling THC vapes in addition to nicotine,” Mayes said.

A Tuesday news release from her office said the stores aren’t consistent or diligent when it comes to checking identification for underage shoppers buying nicotine products.

“In the face of numerous citations, fines of thousands of dollars, reeducation and warnings, New York Smoke Shop and Pro Source continue to sell tobacco and nicotine products to Arizona youth under the age of 18,” Mayes said.

She noted that this is the first time the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is using the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act against a consumer retailer.

“Multiple children aged 16 to 17 were allowed to purchase e-cigarettes and cartridges successfully from these vape shops with no request for ID,” Mayes said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Heidi Hommel contributed to this report.

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