After a two year investigation, Juul agreed to pay $438.5 million in a settlement with 34 states. The investigation focused on the way the company marketed its products to teens.
In addition to the hefty fee, Juul will also have to abide by terms put in place to limit the company’s marketing and sales techniques.
The investigation determined that the e- cigarette company intentionally geared its products to young people. Sales of e- cigarettes to children are illegal.
The company used tactics like free samples, launch parties and social media ads to capture the attention of kids. This helped Juul quickly become one of the most popular nicotine products amongst kids and teens.
Juul appears to recognize its past wrongdoings. “This settlement with 34 states and territories is a significant part of our ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the past, ” Juul said in a press release.
Going forward, the e- cigarette maker wants to focus on selling their product to adults who are weaning off cigarettes. “We remain focused on the future as we work to fulfill our mission to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes – the number one cause of preventable death – while combating underage use, ” the company added.
