Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is cracking down on Valley smoke shops caught selling nicotine products to underage customers—and she’s using undercover teen volunteers to expose the violations.
Mayes announced Tuesday that her office is suing New York Smoke Shop in Chandler and Pro Source Shops, which has three Valley locations, for repeatedly selling vapes and tobacco products to minors. The lawsuit, filed Monday, accuses both businesses of violating the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act by failing to check IDs and not displaying the legally required signage.
“These shops have ignored the law so blatantly that we’re asking the court to dissolve their companies,” Mayes said. “This is essentially the business version of the death penalty.”
Her office uses a team of around 100 underage volunteers to conduct these undercover operations, aiming to curb youth access to nicotine. Selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 is illegal in Arizona—and the age requirement will rise to 21 in late September to align with federal law.
This lawsuit is part of a broader campaign. Mayes has also targeted shops selling hemp-based THC products, although her office has paused enforcement due to ongoing legal battles. A Maricopa County judge recently ruled that she likely has the authority to regulate such products when sold outside licensed dispensaries.
While vaping is legal for adults, youth vaping remains a serious concern. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the FDA’s power to restrict marketing of flavored vapes that appeal to teens.
Neither New York Smoke Shop nor Pro Source Shops responded to requests for comment.
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