Kentucky

Only tobacco and menthol vapes are legal to buy in Kentucky. Can flavored vapes be bought online?

Published

1 year ago

March 3, 2025

Only tobacco and menthol vapes are legal to buy in Kentucky. Can flavored vapes be bought online?

Many Kentuckians may be affected by the new vape ban that took effect Jan. 1, 2025. Only a select number of vape products that are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration are legal to purchase in the state.

For Kentuckians who use tobacco products, here’s what products are legal to purchase in the state, which ones aren’t and what resources are available if you’re looking into quitting.

There are 34 e-cigarette products authorized by the FDA, but they are only tobacco and menthol flavored. You will no longer find any fruit or candy flavored vapes at retailers in Kentucky.

Below is the PDF detailing exactly which vapes are authorized by the FDA and therefore legal to purchase in Kentucky.

There are no safe tobacco products, according to the FDA, and that is why there are no tobacco products that are approved by the FDA, only authorized.

“While these products are authorized to be sold in the U.S., it does not mean these products are safe nor are they ‘FDA approved,’” the document reads. “All tobacco products are harmful and potentially addictive. Those who do not use tobacco products shouldn’t start.”

The answer is likely maybe. It is unlikely that Kentucky residents will be able to purchase unauthorized vapes from online retailers, unless those retailers are located out of state.

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates vape products at the federal level and would be responsible for addressing out of state manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers,” Information Officer for the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet Ricki Gardenhire told the Courier-Journal. “In state, House Bill 11 does not create separate treatment for online sellers and in person sellers. Unauthorized vape products cannot be sold to individuals and wholesalers cannot provide unauthorized products to retailers.”

However, retailers are the ones being penalized, not Kentucky residents who are of the legal age to purchase them trying to buy them.

“There are no penalties for individual purchasers in state statutes as HB 11 regulates industry members, not individual consumers,” Gardenhire said.

If you or someone you know is interested in quitting tobacco, Kentucky has free resources to help.

Quit Now Kentucky is recommended by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services for people of all ages who want to quit tobacco.

“Quit Now Kentucky offers confidential, one-on-one coaching for Kentuckians who want to quit tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, dip and chew,” the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services said on their website.

Some people may even be eligible for free nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine patches, gum or lozenges.

Quit Now Kentucky is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Coaching is available by phone or online chat in English, Spanish and many other languages.

Kentucky residents can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit quitnowkentucky.org for resources and tools for quitting tobacco.

The fact sheet below details more about the services Quit Now Kentucky offers.

Even though you must be age 21 to purchase tobacco products in Kentucky, there are still teenagers who obtain and use tobacco. My Life My Quit is another resource in Kentucky that specializes in helping those who are 17 and younger quit tobacco.

My Life My Quit can be reached at (855) 891-9989 or by texting START MY QUIT to 36072. You can also visit their website at mo.mylifemyquit.org.

Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter on Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman or Bluesky @katiewiseman

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Kentucky

Roadway in Northern Kentucky could be designated ‘Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway’

Published

14 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Roadway in Northern Kentucky could be designated ‘Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway’

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKRC) – A measure that includes naming a highway in Northern Kentucky after conservative activist Charlie Kirk is awaiting action from the governor.

Senate Joint Resolution 139, an omnibus bill designating honorary names for roads and bridges across the state, was delivered to the governor Thursday after clearing both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Among its provisions is the designation of a portion of Kentucky Route 18 in Boone County as the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway.”

The resolution passed the Senate 36-0 in March and later cleared the House 86-4 on April 1 before final concurrence in the Senate.

Lawmakers considered removing the Kirk designation during debate. A House floor amendment that would have deleted the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway” provision was defeated.

The measure includes several other highway and bridge designations statewide, including memorials for fallen service members and local leaders.

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If signed, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would be directed to install signage marking the honorary highway names.

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Kentucky

Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park

CLARKSVILLE, In. (WKYT) — The remains of a Kentucky veteran who was the subject of a Green Alert were found in a park.

The remains of Jyronna Dione Parker, 54, were found March 22 by officers from the Clarksville Police Department. His body was found in Ashland Park on the river’s shoreline.

Jyronna Dione Parker, 54.(Lexington Police Dept.)

In late 2025, a Green Alert was issued for Parker. This alert was cancelled by the Lexington Police department after they determined he was not at risk.

Despite the cancellation of the alert, Parker had been reported missing from Lexington since Oct 17.

What is a Green Alert?

Under Kentucky law, a Green Alert is issued when a veteran at risk goes missing. It’s designed to help first responders and the public locate missing veterans who may be in danger by quickly notifying emergency management agencies, search and rescue teams, and local media outlets.

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Kentucky

Kentucky legislature passes bill shrinking JCPS board to 5 members

Published

2 days ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky legislature passes bill shrinking JCPS board to 5 members

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A revamped bill unveiled late on the final day to pass legislation in the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly with the ability to later override a veto would significantly alter the makeup of Louisville’s public school board.

The new Senate Bill 4 would cut the number of seats on the Jefferson County Board of Education from seven to five. It includes an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect immediately if passed — Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, who introduced the new bill in the House, said the legislation includes new district maps to be used when voters head to the ballot box this year but added JCPS would be able to redraw its own maps after that.

The bill passed in the House on a 72-21 vote mostly along party lines, with three Republicans (Rep. Vanessa Grossl, R-Georgetown, Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, and Rep. Kim Holloway, R-Mayfield) joining Democrats in opposition.

It quickly passed 25-7 in the Senate a few minutes later, with Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, and Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, joining Democrats in voting no.

A copy of the bill was not immediately available.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, originally aimed to create a principal leadership and mentorship program. But after changes in the House, new provisions were added that would affect the makeup of boards for large school districts, including Jefferson County Public Schools and Fayette County Public Schools.

SB 4 is one of many education bills introduced this session, several of which have specifically targeted JCPS. Senate Bill 1, also passed on April 1, gives more power to JCPS’s superintendent while requiring the board to focus on long-term strategies.

The bills come as JCPS navigates an ongoing financial crisis, with a $188 million shortfall expected in the next budget. Prior to the revisions, the SB 4 would have required two new members with “expertise in finance” to be appointed by the state treasurer, Republican Mark Metcalf. That provision was removed during deliberations between the House and Senate.

In an interview after the votes, board Vice-Chair James Craig told The Courier Journal a five-member board “has made sense to me for a number of reasons.” It’s in line with every other district in the state, he said, and it can be difficult to find qualified candidates who have the bandwidth in their lives to devote enough effort to do the job right.

“I think given the realities of what the legislature could have done, how other districts are governed and the challenges that we’ve faced, Senate Bill 4 reflects a compromise that should be workable,” Craig said. “… But I have significant concerns about Senate Bill 1 and the way it interacts with Senate Bill 4.”

Lawmakers have listened to concerns he and other education advocates have raised, he said, removing some of the “problematic provisions” that had been floated as ones that could be included in SB 1. But the bill takes power from the elected board, he noted, and gives it to an unelected superintendent — in Louisville’s case, he added, someone who is “new to the city of Louisville in the last year.” JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood testified against SB 1 earlier this session in Frankfort.

“In my opinion, voters in the city of Louisville do not want a super-empowered superintendent. They want a democratically elected Board of Education that is accountable to them,” Craig added.

Board members will have a discussion with their attorney about potentially challenging SB 1 in court, he said. A similar bill passed in 2022 was struck down late last year by the state Supreme Court after previously being upheld by the high court.

JCPS leaders and board members have raised concerns about the earlier iteration of SB 4 and the removal of two board positions. Three members of JCPS board — Craig, Chair Corrie Shull and Linda Duncan — are scheduled to be up for reelection in November.

Craig does not plan to run again this year, he added.

“Eight years of intense, uncompensated public service have been fulfilling,” he wrote in a text message. “It is time for me to return to the full time practice of law.”

This story will be updated.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com or follow her on X at @keely_doll.

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