Criminalising nicotine vaping in Australia could cause ‘further harm’, drug experts warn

Prohibitionist approach risks fuelling the black market, worsening health outcomes and sending people to jail unnecessarily, experts say

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The criminalisation of nicotine vaping risks “unintended consequences” including fuelling the black market, causing worse health outcomes and even potentially putting people in prison when we should be trying to keep them out, the Australian Alcohol and other Drugs Council (AADC) says.

It is an offence in all states and territories to supply a nicotine vape to someone without a prescription, and to either possess or use one without a prescription.

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