Walgreens has resumed selling e-cigarette products in stores nationwide, according to a report by Bloomberg. The move marks a reversal from the Deerfield, Illinois-based chain, which pulled e-cigarettes from its stores in 2019 amid growing health concerns from state and federal officials.
Workers at the pharmacy chain, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, said e-cigarettes were being placed on store shelves as early as this year, Bloomberg reported.
A Walgreens spokesperson told the news outlet that the company provides adult consumers with a wide range of products and has adjusted its assortment to include “compliant products.”
A spokesperson for Washington-based Juul Labs told Bloomberg that the company’s products are now available, or about to be, in about 6,000 of Walgreens’ nearly 8,000 locations.
To date, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized 39 e-cigarette products. These are the only e-cigarette products that currently may be legally marketed and sold in the United States.
Walgreens has operated as a private standalone company since August 2025, following its acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The deal was completed in partnership with Stefano Pessina and his family, who have reinvested 100% of their interests in Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Sycamore Partners said Walgreens CEO Mike Motz brings “a renewed focus on retail, a customer-first mindset and significant operational discipline” as the company enters its next chapter.
Amid efforts to address financial challenges, Sycamore Partners has cut jobs and eliminated paid holidays for certain workers, Bloomberg reported, adding that “selling vaping products opens up a new revenue stream.”
CSP has reached out to Walgreens and Juul for comment on these developments.
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