Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Condemns Vape Registry Law, Warns of Harm to Hemp Industry

The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin strongly opposes Wisconsin Statute 995.15, enacted under 2023 Act 73, which mandates that by July 1, 2025, all vaping devices sold in the state be certified and listed in a government registry—or face steep penalties. This law is regulatory overreach that threatens small businesses, consumer freedom, and Wisconsin’s hemp cannabis industry. According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, manufacturers must either obtain FDA marketing authorization or prove the product:

• Was marketed in the U.S. as of August 8, 2016
• Had a PMTA submitted by September 9, 2020
• Has a pending FDA decision

Devices failing to meet these criteria must be pulled from shelves. Penalties include $1,000-per-day fines and possible classification as fraudulent actors—hurting small producers, especially those making hemp-derived, non-nicotine products not under FDA tobacco rules.

Senate Bill 257 and Assembly Bill 234, introduced in May 2025, would exempt hemp-derived vaping products from the registry, while still requiring certification through a certificate of analysis. This common-sense fix protects jobs, innovation, and consumer access.

SB 257 passed out of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee with only Senator André Jacque opposed. AB 234 passed the Assembly Committee on State Affairs 8–2. Both await floor votes.

With some legislative leaders still hostile to hemp and cannabis, these bills will test the 2025–26 legislature’s stance on liberty and economic innovation.

As Libertarians, we condemn decades of failed cannabis policy and ongoing interference in personal choice. The right to decide what you put in your body should not depend on bureaucratic approval or crony monopolies.

Freedom includes the freedom to inhale—without fear, penalty, or government meddling.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.