In the wellness space, the rules around age-restricted products like kratom, vapes, and cbd are becoming stricter. These products are under intense scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators, especially when it comes to youth access. But while many sellers still rely on a simple “Are you 21+?” website pop-up, that method is neither secure nor compliant—and in most cases, it’s legally meaningless.
A Real Case with Real Consequences
In New York, several businesses recently filed a major lawsuit against several of the country’s largest vape distributors. The accusation? They enabled underage sales by failing to implement proper age verification systems. These companies now face steep legal action, reputational damage, and the likelihood of intensified regulation across the industry. It’s a clear warning: if you’re selling restricted products without legally required age verification, you’re not just non-compliant—you’re vulnerable.
The Legal Fallout Is Just the Beginning
When a minor manages to purchase a restricted product, the legal penalties are just one layer of risk. Merchants often lose access to their payment processors, get dropped by banking partners, and face surprise audits. One mistake can lead to frozen funds and the total shutdown of your business operations.
Beyond Compliance: The Industry Is Watching
These high-profile cases don’t just damage the seller—they hurt the entire wellness industry. Incidents like the New York case give regulators ammunition to push for bans, tighter restrictions, or even criminalization of certain cannabinoids. Sellers doing things the right way end up paying for the shortcuts taken by others.
Pop-Ups Aren’t Protection
A “Yes, I’m 21+” checkbox isn’t all compliance. It doesn’t verify fully—and it won’t hold up if regulators or law enforcement come calling. Real ID validation means knowing which laws apply to your products, where your customer is located, and whether a proper age check is legally required.
WAAVE Does It—Only When Required, and Always Securely
WAAVE’s system is built to apply ID checks when the law demands it. We assess each transaction based on product type and shipping location, and when validation is needed, we:
- Run a secure, one-time age verification
- Issue a token as proof of compliance
- Never store ID data or personal information
It’s a system that balances compliance with privacy—protecting both merchants and their customers.
Strengthening the Industry One Transaction at a Time
By enforcing age requirements where the law requires them, sellers help prove that the wellness space can regulate itself responsibly. That’s what keeps doors open. That’s what earns trust from banks, regulators, and consumers alike.
WAAVE was built for this moment—making sure your transactions are legal, compliant, and future-proof. One smart validation at a time
