Letitia James, New York‘s Attorney General, has given an update on the allocation of settlement money obtained from Juul Labs Inc., the e-cigarette manufacturer.
Over the past year, Juul paid $462 million to settle a lawsuit in several states, with New York receiving $112.7 million. James’s office recently disclosed the distribution of $27.1 million from the settlement, including $12 million for New York City and nearly $15 million for the city’s school district.
The settlement funds will be dispersed to counties, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BCES), and major cities to support anti-vaping initiatives for minors.
James emphasized the importance of using the funds for public education campaigns, school programs, vaping cessation efforts, law enforcement, and health research.
She condemned Juul for fueling a “national health crisis,” particularly by targeting youth with addictive products.
Notably, Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the significant investment from Juul towards education and prevention initiatives in the city.
Following legal agreements, Juul faces restrictions on marketing and distribution to prevent youth targeting and limit bulk purchases.
Juul has expressed commitment to combat underage use and undergo business practice improvements since 2019. They noted a significant drop in underage Juul use post-reset.
Despite a recent FDA reversal of a past ban on Juul e-cigarettes, it reinforces that the decision does not signify an endorsement of Juul’s marketing practices.
The FDA’s previous ban in 2022 was temporarily lifted until further review, while Juul continues its efforts to address contentious issues.