Some months ago, we were encouraging vapers to bulk purchase their favorite vapes because we saw this coming; we offered plenty of discount options and sales events. Well, the window is closed, and for some persons living in certain US States, like North Carolina, it is now illegal to purchase vapes that are not on North Carolina’s official vapor-product directory.
Can you order Geek Bar online in North Carolina after the ban? Umm, NO, you can’t. That’s the brutal truth. But wait, there are things you know to know, including how you can get your favorite vape to NC. This article takes a deep dive into the effect of vape ban laws that have swept across many states.
Key Takeaways:
· North Carolina’s HB 900 (Session Law 2024-31) created a state certification and online directory. Only products listed in that directory may be sold at retail in NC. Retail sale or distribution of non-listed products is prohibited; civil penalties, seizure, and license suspension/ revocation apply.
· Most disposable brands popular on shelves nationwide (including Geek Bars) are not FDA-authorized and therefore are generally not included in the NC directory. Thus, any retail shop that carries a Geek Bar vape in NC is risking their operating license and heavy fines.
· The enforcement focus is on sellers, distributors, and manufacturers — not casual personal possession. Nevertheless, if you buy from an out-of-state retailer that knowingly ships a non-listed vape product to you in NC (if ever that goes through customs), if you get caught, both you and the seller will face specified penalties.
How Did the HB900 Black-Out Geek Bar Sales and Purchases in NC?
House Bill 900 added statutory requirements that mandate manufacturers to certify their vape products and consumables with the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) within a specified time. The Department publishes a Vapor Products and Consumable Products Directory; only products listed there may be sold at retail in North Carolina; the directory is public and updated monthly.
The law gives retailers and distributors 60 days from directory publication to clear or return non-listed inventory; after that, non-listed products cannot be purchased or sold for retail in the state. A $2,000 initial penalty fee applies. The law also creates escalating penalties for sellers who violate the rule, and authorizes seizure and destruction of non-compliant inventory.
So, aside from the FDA list of attested vapes to buy in the US, North Carolina has its own list. While virtually all products and brands on the FDA list made it to the NC list too, there are chances for brands that are not on the FDA list to get whitelisted in NC.
What “FDA Authorized” Means, and Why it Matters Here
On the federal level, the FDA is tasked with controlling which vaping products can be marketed in the U.S. The FDA issues marketing orders through the PMTAs (Premarket Tobacco Product Applications). Only products that have received marketing authorization — or that are in a narrowly defined pending/court-ordered status — have a clear federal pathway to lawfully be sold nationwide.
The NC law ties into that federal statute, requiring vape manufacturers and sellers to demonstrate compliance with applicable federal law (i.e., show FDA backing, PMTA filings, or court orders) when they certify. As of earlier this year, mid-2025, the number of FDA-authorized ENDS products was merely a fraction of the total number of vape products sold across US states prior.
Most flavored disposable vapes and popular brands that carry them did not make the FDA whitelist, and so, they are unlikely to be able to qualify for a state directory that requires evidence of federal compliance.
Is Geek Bar Specifically Banned in North Carolina?
The short and simple answer is NO. But at the same time, it is not allowed to be sold in NC. Confusing? It doesn’t have to. Here’s the full story.
Geek Bar products are not on North Carolina’s certified directory and therefore cannot be legally sold or shipped for retail into NC. So, Geek Bars were not specifically banned; they’re only declared illegal because the brand has not fulfilled the requirements to be whitelisted in the state of North Carolina.
It is important to note that not only Geek Bar products are affected in this brouhaha, but Lost Mary vapes, RAZ, SMOK, FOGER, and many other brands faced the same fate. None of them is on the FDA list, and as such, they are not on the NDCOR list either.
Can an Out-of-State Retailer Ship Geek Bar to a North Carolina Address?
Oftentimes, when laws like this are passed and they become effective, people seek out loopholes they can cling to and still enjoy whatever benefits they’ve been enjoying before the law. Well, sadly, in this case, there are no loopholes, or well, none have been detected for now.
Many Geek Bar lovers are asking if they can buy their favorite flavors outside NC and have them shipped to them. Well, that won’t be possible, both legally and practically. If a product is not on the NC directory, it won’t be allowed into the state via any medium. Well, unless you hoarded it and never got caught.
Under HB 900, a manufacturer or seller that allows non-listed products to be sold for retail in NC can face civil penalties up to $10,000 per product (for manufacturers), and hefty fines for retailers, as well as license suspension and confiscation.
A sale into NC — even online — constitutes retailing “in North Carolina.” The law is explicitly written to cover sales via importers/distributors/retailers. Major logistics carriers won’t even agree to carry such products.
Is Personal Possession Illegal? Could you be charged for having a Geek Bar?
Now, that’s a loophole. You won’t be charged for carrying a Geek Bar in North Carolina. If you had earlier bulk-purchased your favorite flavors and have them stored in your locker, so you can pick them out one after the other, you’re not committing any crime.
Possession or use of Geek Bars (or just about any other vape that’s not on the NC directory list) is generally not the enforcement target under HB 900; the law targets sale and distribution. Also, the Federal PACT Act rules and carrier rules apply to shipments, not personal possession.
Are There Any Workarounds?
Well, there are a few talks here and there in forums, on how NC vapers who love Geek Bar vapes can still lay their hands on their favorite flavors. But, of course, these workarounds are not risk-free.
So, the first is shipping to a friend in another state, and then the friend flies into NC with the vape(s). Yeah, this can only work if the friend is able to bypass airport checks and inspections for electronic products.
Similarly, you could bulk-buy your favorite Geek Bars when you travel out of NC and then fly in with them, or just drive back. Yeah, drive into NC with your vape, which would save you the hassles of flight checks.
This last workaround is the riskiest; some dudes bulk-bought these vapes when they were allowed legally, and have them all stocked up in their homes. If you’re lucky to know one or more of such dudes, they could sell to you a few—black market, yeah, that’s what it is.
What Vapes Can Be Legally Purchased in North Carolina?
Actually, there are hundreds of approved vape products on the NCDOR list, and the list is public, meaning you could access it anytime, any day to view what products are added or removed. You can also download the data in PDF format and look it up in your spare time. Sadly, as lengthy as the list appeared, it didn’t include the people’s favorite vape products like the Geek Bar Pulse, Pulse X, RAZ LTX, and the rest.
Conclusion
Honestly, the chance was there to bulk buy when the HB900 had not been sworn into effect, but right now, there’s no way to break in. If you didn’t have Geek Bars in North Carolina up until now, you can’t legally purchase them within the state or have them shipped to you from outside the state.
This should be a wake-up call to everyone in states where vape ban laws have been passed, but are yet to be effective—bulk buy your favorites now and stock up. These stuff don’t spoil or expire easily; provided you store them properly, we’re looking at up to 12 months shelf life. VapingLand has all Geek Bar flavors in stock for the Pulse and Pulse X models, and you can take advantage of our best deals of the moment.
