E-cigarette maker JUUL has reportedly decided to relocate its headquarters to the District of Columbia. It is currently based in San Francisco, where it will keep an office after the move.
The company’s decision was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, before it was confirmed by other news outlets such as WAMU.
The move comes at a time when the leading e-cigarette and vaping products manufacturer has been under immense pressure in the D.C. area.
D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced in November 2019 that he filed a lawsuit against the Juul Labs for specifically targeting children and misleading its potential customers about the content of their products.
According to the lawsuit filed by Racine, “Juul was specifically designed and marketed with an eye towards addicting underage non-smokers. Juul developed flavor profiles, such as mango, coco mint, and fruit medley, that were tailored towards kids.”
Last January, the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a hearing to discuss three bills aiming to curb the widespread use of e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction among teenagers. It was argued that such products were primarily targeting African-Americans and minors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1,600 deaths around the country last year were related to vaping. The first such death in the District was reported in October 2019.
In a press release in October, D.C. Health called on District residents to avoid using e-cigarettes and vaping products, warning that “cannabis or THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) vape-products that are obtained off the street may pose the greatest risk.”
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