Hey there, Vendpreneur!

Welcome to Becoming a Vendpreneur—where every week I help you navigate the challenges of running a vending machine business, whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your operation.

This week, I'm tackling the question everyone keeps asking: “Are vape and Zyn vending machines legal?”

• Short answer: Yes

• Real answer: It’s not that simple...

But before we jump into more details, I want to share a few quick updates on my nightlife vending business, Pod Plug:

🚀 Business Updates

• 👔 Officially pulling the trigger on Brian as our new Integrator (aka COO). I’ve been searching for my right-hand man for the past 4 months and finally found the one. Locked in. He starts April 14th!

• 🤢 Got slammed with some brutal food poisoning during our team retreat in Palawan, Philippines. Not exactly part of the itinerary, but we powered through and kept things moving.

• 📸 Here are a few pics from the Philippines with the team (still soaking in how special this trip has been!):

• 📞 Had some great strategy convos this week:

  • Hopped on a call with Paul (Reddit) to dig into some unique, community-driven marketing ideas

  • Caught up with Daniel (Facebook) to talk about engagement in FB groups and what’s working right now for lead gen

• 📹 Dropped my FIRST YouTube video this week! I broke down exactly how to start a nightlife vending business and make $50k per month. Go check it out here.

• 💥 Officially shut down Vending Machine LaunchPad (VMLP). Tough decision, but it was time. Grateful for everything we built, now the full focus is on Pod Plug and building out the franchise.

• 📊 EOS quarterly review is happening tomorrow. Time to reset our rocks, realign the team, and go into Q2 laser-focused with a gorgeous island view in Palawan, Philippines.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s newsletter. 👇

🔗 Best Links

Curated picks for Vendpreneurs

📱 Top Reads

• 🤖 A company in Hungary just dropped the future of vending. These machines are contactless and run on AI. (Hungarian Conservative)

• 🎰 Some vending machines are being called out for prize-based setups that feel way too close to gambling. (The Guardian)

😱 Trending Now

• 🥯 A machine serving fresh bagels is going viral and showing how far food vending can go. (TikTok)

• 🍕 A behind-the-scenes look at how a pizza is prepped, cooked, and served (oddly satisfying to watch). (TikTok)

I get this question every week —

“Can I really place vape or Zyn machines legally?”

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: only if you follow the rules.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

Yes, It’s Legal (But Not Everywhere) 🫠

If you're running vape vending machines, here's what you need to know in 2025:

First, not every state is vape vending-friendly.

Federal law says vape machines are only allowed in adult-only locations like bars and smoke shops.

Some states, like California and New York, allow it (but only in those restricted areas).

Others, like Colorado and Rhode Island, ban vape vending completely, no matter where you place the machine.

Second, age checks.

Federal rules require ID verification 

That means your machine needs built-in age verification tech to stop underage sales, UNLESS you’re in an age-gated bar/club ID’ing people at the door

If you don’t have it, you’re out of compliance (and that’s a fast way to get shut down).

Third, don’t ignore local rules.

Even if your state gives you the green light, cities and counties might have extra rules.

• Some places need extra permits.

• Others have zoning laws that block vending machines in certain spots.

• And most property owners will want written approval before you install anything.

Bottom line?

Know your state laws. Use age verification. And always double-check with local officials before placing a machine.

What Makes It Legal? 🤔

To legally operate an adult-use vending machine, you need to check a few important boxes:

• Age verification is required. Either through an on-machine ID scanner or getting ID’d by staff at the entrance.

• Location matters. Machines must be placed in 21+ environments like bars, clubs, smoke shops, dispensaries, etc. (if the venue already restricts entry to 21+, no extra age check is needed at the machine.).

• Follow FDA packaging and labeling rules. Everything sold must be properly labeled and compliant with FDA guidelines for that product category.

Stick to these three and you’re operating 100% legally.

What I’m Doing? 😎

I’ve run 100+ vape & Zyn machines in nightlife spots across 5 states.

It’s honestly one of the easiest ways to get into vending.

And it’s what most people want to do.

But the legal side? That’s where everyone gets stuck.

Licensing, compliance, age checks... it’s a headache.

No one wants to deal with that.

That’s exactly why I’m confident in franchising Pod Plug.

We’ve already solved all of it:

✅ Machines are 100% age-gated
✅ Everything’s remote-monitored
✅ We guide the legal process + help you connect with top locations

You just plug in and scale.

PS. Want in on the only plug-and-play, fully legal vape vending model?

And That’s a Wrap!

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter.

Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I read every single reply and I’d love to hear from you!

See you next Saturday!

-Ethan