{"id":2194,"date":"2021-11-04T16:55:22","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T16:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=183011"},"modified":"2021-11-04T16:55:22","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T16:55:22","slug":"heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=2194","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s how USPS ban on e-cigarettes will restrict hemp and CBD oil shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>Here&#8217;s how USPS ban on e-cigarettes will restrict hemp and CBD oil shipping &#8211; Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t   <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.1.2 (Yoast SEO v17.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->                  <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information -->  <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <title>Leafly<\/title>     <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <title>Loading\u2026<\/title>     <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<p>Last month, the United States Postal Service (USPS) released its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/10\/21\/2021-22787\/treatment-of-e-cigarettes-in-the-mail\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">final rule<\/a> on the mailing of vape cartridges and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). And it\u2019s not good news for anyone who orders or sends vapes in the mail. <\/p>\n<p>The new rule will limit adults shipping nicotine, hemp, and CBD vape cartridges to 10 lightweight non-commercial ENDS every 30 days. The federal service already prohibits THC vapes from being mailed.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, buyers and sellers nationwide will have to cover the costs of more expensive private shipping options to adjust. The new restrictions were originally aimed at stopping underage tobacco and nicotine use, but all e-smokers will be caught in the fray.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"658\" alt=\"image-of-woman-vaping\" class=\"wp-image-174641 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption> After October\u2019s ruling, vape users and providers expressed concerns about how to the law could affect their access to products. (AdobeStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-ends-products-and-accessories-will-be-included\">What ENDS products and accessories will be included?<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you vape hemp, CBD, THC or tobacco, any component of the device will be limited. <\/p>\n<p>That includes batteries, power sources, and charging attachments for vaporizers, empty cartridges, reservoirs, or pods for vaporizers, attachments including mouthpieces and other accessories are included in the new restrictions, at the discretion of the USPS and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).<\/p>\n<h2>An official statement from the USPS to Leafly <\/h2>\n<p>November 3, the USPS addressed specific concerns about gray areas for hemp and CBD vape users.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cParts, components, liquids, and accessories of ENDS devices as subject to the PACT Act,\u201d said the USPS via e-mail. \u201cTherefore, to the extent that (above items) qualify as parts, components, liquids, or accessories of ENDS devices, then they are now generally nonmailable.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>USPS added, \u201cinterpretive questions about whether a specific item falls within the statutory definition should be directed to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with a copy to the Postal Service\u2019s Pricing and Classification Service Center.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The relevant provisions of the new rules are highlighted below for reference.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p><em>\u201cENDS include but are not limited to, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), electronic hookahs (e-hookahs), electronic cigars (e-cigars), vape pens, advanced refillable personal vaporizers, and electronic pipes.&nbsp;Any reference to ENDS also includes any component, liquid, part, or accessory of an ENDS device, regardless of whether the component, liquid, part, or accessory is sold or provided separately from the device.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 <strong>USPS official <\/strong>ruling on ENDS, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/10\/21\/2021-22787\/treatment-of-e-cigarettes-in-the-mail\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Section 471.5<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The USPS also communicated the exact letter of the new law to employees in an <a href=\"https:\/\/link.usps.com\/2021\/10\/21\/electronic-smoking-devices-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">official memo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What about Hemp and CBD flower?<\/h2>\n<p>Hemp-derived CBD that consists of 0.3 percent THC by dry weight remains mailable, for the most part. Even though electronic CBD is caught in between these state and federal laws.<\/p>\n<p>The news is a tough break for retailers and users who have embraced vapable hemp and CBD products. Without USPS, costlier mailing via other couriers will likely skyrocket for sellers and consumers.<\/p>\n<p>The final rule didn\u2019t come out of left field for many high-volume shippers. Leafly has kept an eye on mailing regulations since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/cannabis-101\/mailing-cannabis-through-usps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2016.<\/a> The feds weren\u2019t friendly about mailing funky foliage back then either.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-laws-are-behind-this-new-ban\">What laws are behind this new ban?<\/h2>\n<p>This ban stems from the USPS\u2019 attempt to stay in harmony with two separate acts. <\/p>\n<p>First, the 2009 Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which originally limited mailing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to 10 per adult, per month. Exceptions included business, regulatory, testing and public health purposes, as well as intrastate mailing in Alaska and Hawaii.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" alt=\"China denounces legal cannabis in Canada and the United States\" class=\"wp-image-106715 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.png,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.png,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.png,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.png,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Many small retailers and buyers rely on the USPS for affordable shipping rates (Leafly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Then came the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (POSECCA), introduced in 2019. POSECCA aimed to restrict both the sale and delivery of tobacco products to anyone under the legal age, and was passed in December, 2020.<\/p>\n<p>In its final rule last week, the USPS concluded it had no choice but to ban ENDS used for hemp and CBD along with tobacco products with respect to both acts. The agency concluded that POSECCA\u2019s definition of \u201ccigarettes\u201d now officially includes ENDS used to vape any substance, so PACT restrictions apply.<\/p>\n<h2>Why are cannabis and hemp involved in this?<\/h2>\n<p>Marijuana and hemp-derived products officially entered the USPS\u2019 ENDS group chat thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/FR-2021-10-21\/pdf\/2021-22787.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vol. 86 , No. 201 of the Federal Register<\/a>, which states:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe plain language of the POSECCA definition makes clear that nonmailable ENDS products include those containing or used with not only nicotine, but also <em>\u201cflavor[] or any other substance.\u201d <\/em>It goes without saying that marijuana, hemp, and their derivatives are substances. Hence, to the extent that they may be delivered to an inhaling user through an aerosolized solution, they and the related delivery systems, parts, components, liquids, and accessories clearly fall within POSECCA\u2019s scope. (58404)\u201d \u2013 Federal Register<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration\u2019s past judgements on CBD was also mentioned. <\/p>\n<p>The Federal Register states, \u201cthe FDA likewise has not approved any ENDS product for therapeutic delivery of any non-nicotine substance, including, in particular, CBD or other substances derived from marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Register added, \u201cFar from taking marketing claims of therapeutic benefit at face value, the FDA has undertaken enforcement action against companies making such claims about CBD and other cannabis-related products absent new drug approvals from the FDA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The USPS ruling concludes, that \u201cexcept for hemp-derived CBD containing no more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, cannabis and cannabis derivatives remain non-mailable under the Controlled Substances Act regardless of the POSECCA and notwithstanding any State or local laws on \u2018medical\u2019 marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" alt class=\"wp-image-123379 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Some medical and recreational users prefer oil to flower or edible options. (cendeced\/AdobeStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How do I get an exemption to mail ENDS?<\/h2>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/FR-2021-04-19\/pdf\/2021-07976.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">April 2020 volume<\/a> of the Federal Register provides mailers with guidance to assist in preparing exception applications.<\/p>\n<p>Shippers seeking an ENDS exceptions must first apply to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Last week\u2019s ruling included details on how to use these exceptions and what steps the shipper must take. For example, labeling the package to say \u201cPERMITTED ENDS MAILING\u2014DELIVER ONLY UPON AGE VERIFICATION\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Multiple ENDS industry commenters and manufacturers used the Controlled Substances ACT (CSA) definition of marijuana and tried to encourage further exemptions to the rule, but to no avail. <\/p>\n<h2>Need further guidance interpreting the new law?<\/h2>\n<p>The USPS ruling advises anyone with further questions to contact the ATF.<\/p>\n<p id=\"m_2927681789702603316p-519\">Section 474.1 of the ruling says: \u201cInterpretative guidance regarding these provisions may be requested by contacting ATF at the following address, with a copy to the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) (see 213 for address): Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue NE, c\/o 90 K St. NE, Ste. 250, Washington, DC 20226.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.jpg\" alt=\"Christopher Minaya's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Christopher Minaya<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Christopher Minaya has written for XXL, Hot 97, In Flex We Trust, and more. He reports on East Coast cannabis trends in an effort to humanize the flower.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/christopher-minaya\">View Christopher Minaya&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2021-11-04 16:09:51 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here&#8217;s how USPS ban on e-cigarettes will restrict hemp and CBD oil shipping &#8211; Leafly Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Last month, the United States Postal Service (USPS) released its final rule on the mailing of vape cartridges and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). And it\u2019s not good news for anyone who orders or sends vapes in&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/heres-how-usps-ban-on-e-cigarettes-will-restrict-hemp-and-cbd-oil-shipping.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}