Letitia James gets millions in settlement for vaping epidemic

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has secured millions in a settlement with JUUL Labs, Inc., NBC 4 New York reports. 

For those unfamiliar with JUUL, it is an American electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, company.

In November 2019, James brought a lawsuit against JUUL for deceptive and misleading marketing. James claimed that JUUL's marketing targeted younger individuals by making vaping seem like an attractive thing to do.

James was able to demonstrate that the use of e-cigarettes increased significantly among the younger members of the population after the launch of JUUL in 2015. Then, last year, James obtained the a massive multi-state settlement with JUUL.

The settlement

BrooklynEagle provides the details on the settlement.

"New York state will receive a total of $112.7 million through this settlement, which Attorney General James will distribute to every country, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and the five largest cities in the state to support programs that will help reduce and prevent underage vaping."

According to NBC News, New York City is about to receive $27.1 million of this settlement.

"Of the $27.1 million that New York City will receive from the settlement, nearly $15 million will go to the school district and $12 million to the city to support anti-vaping programs for the youth," the outlet reports.

According to BrooklynEagle, the settlement funds must be used, by the counties and BOCES, for:

Pulibc eduation campaigns to prevent e-cigarette use among young people; community, school, and university-based anti-vaping programs; vapgin cessation services in communities, schools, and colleges; enforcement of vaping laws and regulations; [or] public health research into e-cigarette use among young people and the effectiveness of anti-vaping programs.

James's statement

James is celebrating the settlement with JUUL.

"JUUL created a nationwide public health crisis by sparking a wave of addiction among children. Young people are suffering because JUUL built its business by marketing addictive e-cigarettes to kids," she said.

James added, "Thanks to our efforts to hold JUUL accountable, New York City will receive over $27 million for valuable programs to fight back against the youth vaping epidemic. Our children’s health is on the line, and these funds will be used for education, prevention, enforcement, and research to keep our kids safe."

In addition to handing over the money, JUUL is also required, under the settlement, to make changes to its marketing practices.

The company, among other things, is no longer allowed to use any marketing strategy that targets youth.