It sounds a bit like here, where they had witch hunts from health authorities against shops that sold anything vape related containing nicotine. Despite all evidence showed it was less harmful than cigarettes, and the best way to quit too. This kind of activity was almost completely unheard of, but I guess health authorities, are the ones that are best paid by big pharma.
It was only when EU regulated it, that it became legal in Denmark. Luckily being in EU we could buy from other EU countries.