Modern platforms have stepped up in three key areas.

Age verification integrations. Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce now have mature apps that do real ID checks—not just birthdate entry. Services like AgeChecker or Veratad can validate against government databases, and some even require a photo upload for high-risk orders. The best part: they can be set to trigger only on checkout, so browsing stays frictionless.

Payment processor flexibility. Platforms now support high-risk processors like Durango or Easy Pay Direct. This is huge. You're no longer forced into the corner of PayPal (which will hold your funds) or Stripe (which will terminate you). Some platforms, like BigCommerce, even have partnerships with high-risk processors pre-vetted for vape sales.

Geo-fencing and catalog restrictions. BigCommerce has built-in geo-blocking. Shopify has apps that can hide products based on IP address. You can now prevent a visitor from Massachusetts from even seeing your flavored vape collection, which keeps you on the right side of state law without manual order screening.