JUUL strikes $462m agreement with six states and DC

JUUL Labs has reached a $462 million agreement with six states and DC regarding the company’s alleged role in “contributing to the youth vaping epidemic.”

The multistate agreement announced on April 12 between JUUL and attorneys general from California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and DC is the latest involving the vape giant.

A statement on JUUL’s website says that the settlement “represents another critical part in our ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the company’s past.” The statement noted that the company has “now settled with 47 states and territories, providing over $1 billion to participating states.” (West Virginia announced a $7.9 million agreement with JUUL on April 10.)

“The terms of the agreement, like prior settlements, provide financial resources to further combat underage use and develop cessation programs and reflect our current business practices, which were implemented as part of our company-wide reset in the fall of 2019,” JUUL’s statement continued.

Under the latest agreement, JUUL is set to pay California $175.9 million, New York $112.7 million, Illinois $67.6 million, Massachusetts $41.7 million, Colorado $31.7 million, New Mexico $17 million, and DC $15.2 million.

It also requires JUUL to implement practices to prevent underage vaping.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the agreement “another step forward in our fight to protect our kids from getting hooked on vaping and nicotine.”

“While no amount of money or new restrictions on Juul’s business practices can undo the harms caused by the teen vaping epidemic, this settlement will make great strides towards reducing it and can support young people who are hurting now more than ever,” added Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.