Worldwide e-cigarette brand Juul is withdrawing its support in the fight against the anti-vaping ordinance of San Francisco. The vaping ballot initiative has lost Juul's support after the company has spent $19 million for the cause.
Their decision follows closely on major changes made at the company, including its newly appointed CEO, K.C. Crosthwaite. She claims that Juul was committed to working with regulators and policymakers and earning "the trust of the societies in which we operate."
"That includes inviting an open dialogue, listening to others and being responsive to their concerns," Crosthwaite said.
In a statement, the company announced that a broad review of the company's policies in order to responsibly lead the industry is being done. And while they continue that review, they will also be ceasing active support of Proposition C in San Francisco.
Proposition C, or "Prop C," is the ballot that aims to weaken San Francisco's limits on flavored tobacco products. It would have allowed the sale of vape products to adults—partially nullifying the city's June 2019 ordinance that as of next year—where they would be banning sales of e-cigarettes and vape not reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. The ballot's initiative is heavily disputed by many health organizations working to end e-cigarette sales to kids.
The city of San Francisco is the first to ban e-cigarettes sales with the intention to "curb the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use."
Juul Labs, Inc. is an electronic cigarette company that was born from Pax Labs in 2017. It is the maker of the Juul e-cigarette, which contains nicotine salts from leaf tobacco into one-time use cartridges.
The Juul is a portable "nicotine-delivery device" designed to imitate the physical and sensory experience of a cigarette without looking like one. The bottom part is the device, which includes the battery and temperature regulation system, and the top part is the e-liquid cartridge that you stick into the device. The cartridge is also the mouthpiece where all you have to do is click. The device is rechargeable and comes with a USB charger that you can pop into your laptop or charging block.
The Juul became the most popular e-cigarette in the U.S. at the end of 2017 and had a market share of 72% as of September 2018. Its widespread use, especially by the youth, generated concern from the public health community and multiple investigations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Given its high nicotine concentrations, the nicotine-related health consequences of its use could be more severe than those from their use of other e-cigarette products.
Protesters have been arguing that the Juul company wrote the ballot to protect their profits and that Prop C will make it easier to sell e-cigarettes to kids in San Francisco. However, the company's withdrawal to support it leaves the ordinance hanging, especially since Juul is its biggest benefactor.
E-cigarettes have been alarmingly unregulated since its arrival in the United States almost 12 years ago. The Food and Drug Administration has set next May as a deadline for manufacturers to submit their products for review.
