LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced that she has joined a multistate coalition investigating e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs.
The bipartisan 39-state coalition will be investigating Juul’s marketing and sales practices. Specifically, they will investigate targeting of youth, claims regarding nicotine content, and statements regarding risks, safety and effectiveness as a smoking cessation device.
“The health and safety of our youth should not be jeopardized by false advertising and deceptive marketing tactics,” Nessel said in a statement. “Companies that mislead customers about their products are not good corporate actors and they must be held accountable when they engage in this behavior.”
Recent data provided by the state shows that regular cigarette use is declining, but vaping among youth is “skyrocketing.” For example, in Kalamazoo, vape usage has increased by 34%.
The most dramatic increase is in Clinton and Oceana counties, which have seen an increase of 118%.
“Michigan has seen an explosive and unprecedented increase in youth vaping, and there is no question that marketing and availability of flavors directly contributed to this epidemic,” chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said. “We have to hold these companies accountable and do everything we can to keep vaping products out of the hands of youth.”
Further data from the FDA indicates that more than 5 million youth are currently using e-cigarettes, up from 3.6 million in 2018, either daily or frequently “meaning 20 or more days per month.”
More information about vaping can be found online at the MDHHS website.
