Attorney General Matt Platkin is putting nearly 11,000 smoke and vape shops on notice, warning them that it is illegal to sell flavored vape products in the state.

Letters were sent out as part of a multistate effort to keep candy, fruit, chocolate and other flavored vape products out of children's hands. New Jersey banned the products in 2020 – the first state in the country to do so.

Health experts say flavored products are linked to a rise in tobacco use among adolescents.

“New Jersey has been a nationwide leader in the fight to protect kids from the harmful effects of vapor products that lure them in with enticing flavors and bright packaging,” Platkin wrote in a statement. “Today, we’re proud to take a unified stand with partner states to combat this problem.”

Shops that do sell flavored products face a $10,000 fine for a first offense. The fine doubles after the first time.