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But from October 1, these same therapeutic vapes will be available from a pharmacy after speaking to a pharmacist.
This would mirror the offering of ibuprofen, nicotine gum or nicotine patches, but with a higher clearance threshold.
Non-therapeutic vapes, which are often aimed at children, will still be illegal to manufacture or sell.
Pharmacists opposed the decision, saying they were health professionals who dispensed drugs with “proven therapeutic benefit”.
“No vaping product has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration based on its safety, efficacy or effectiveness. No vaping products are listed on the Australian Therapeutic Goods Register,” the Pharmacy Guild of Australia said in a statement.
“Vaping has long-term harm to patients, including cancer, lung scarring and nicotine addiction. There is limited evidence to support the use of smoking cessation products and nicotine addiction.
“The Senate’s expectation that community pharmacies will become retailers and garbage collectors is offensive.”
The revised laws will pass the Senate with the support of the Greens, who have said vaping should not be criminalized or require a prescription.
“There’s a lot to balance here. Unregulated single-use vaping is hazardous to health and harmful to the environment,” Senator Jordan Steele-John told X.
“Prohibiting substances doesn’t work. Communities need to be protected, not over-policed.”
Health Minister Mark Butler said the new laws would ensure vapes were used as an alternative for smokers, not as a hobby for children.
“These laws protect young Australians and the wider community from the harms of recreational smoking,” he said.
“From Monday next week it will be illegal to supply, manufacture, import and sell vape outside of a pharmacy.”
The coalition, which has not revealed how it will vote on the laws, described the move as a “backsliding”.
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