Vape shops popping up around Saskatchewan

Vape shops that sell electronic cigarettes and flavoured "juices" are springing up around Saskatchewan — and not just in the bigger cities.

In Regina and Saskatoon, there are already many stores selling e-cigarettes and supplies, but in the last few years, companies have also been setting up in smaller centres such as Nipawin, Melville and Kindersley.

In Yorkton, it's the Vape Shack. Prince Albert has Vita Vapes, while North Battleford is home to Darth Vapour. 

The growth of vape shops has actually been "moderate" in Saskatchewan, compared to other provinces, but the numbers are definitely growing, says Kate Ackerman, spokeswoman for the Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada.

The association does advocacy work, plus audits and testing of the juices to ensure they're safe. It's worried that governments will introduce onerous regulations that will hurt its members.

"Regulations are necessary. However, they should be fact-based," Ackerman said.

People in the business are enthusiastic about their products and how some items have helped smokers quit.

"Wonderful stories, especially of the elderly, of people that come in that I help quit smoking, especially because they`ve been smoking for 60 years," Stephen Poch, from Electronic Fog, a vape shop in Regina, said. "It makes me feel really good that I can help people quit smoking and all that stuff."

Groups like the Canadian Cancer Society want e-cigarettes treated like regular cigarettes and banned from workplaces and other public places.

The Cancer Society's Saskatchewan branch wants Health Canada to regulate the manufacturing of these products for sale, but also believes the provincial government should step in and take action.

"In Saskatchewan right now it is legal to sell e-cigarettes to a nine-year-old. That's wrong," the society's Rob Cunningham said. "It's legal to use it on an elementary or secondary school property. That's wrong. And the Saskatchewan government really needs to bring forward legislation. There's a role to protect kids that is missing."

As a former smoker, Marty Maybe considers e-cigarettes a life saver. He smoked for 28 years and quit when he started vaping four months ago.

When it comes to selling to youth, Maybe said it's better than lighting up.

"Kids these days are smoking at 12, 15 years old and it is unfortunate," Maybe said. "It is happening, no matter what we do to try and stop it. So, yeah, this is a good alternative."

• Health groups urge Regina to follow Saskatoon on smoking bans
• E-cigarette industry booming in Saskatchewan

Although other provinces have started regulating vape products, the Saskatchewan government says it's waiting to see what Health Canada says on the issue.

"The Ministry of Health does not monitor the number of e-cigarette distributors in the province, as regulation is the responsibility of the federal government," health ministry spokesman Tyler McMurchy said in an email to CBC.

"We continue to closely monitor Health Canada's approach to the regulation of this industry. Municipalities have the authority to draft bylaws, as they feel appropriate."

Here's a map showing a selection of vape shops around Saskatchewan.