FDA Greenlights Juul Sales Amidst Public Health Outcry

In a controversial decision, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given vaping giant Juul the green light to continue selling its tobacco and menthol e-cigarettes. The ruling, announced yesterday, provides significant relief to a company that has faced years of scrutiny and blame for fueling a surge in teen vaping.

FDA regulators stated that Juul’s submitted studies indicate its e-cigarettes pose less harm to adult smokers, particularly those who fully transition from traditional cigarettes to vaping. This decision applies to both tobacco- and menthol-flavored versions of Juul’s reusable device, which uses nicotine-filled cartridges.

The move has immediately drawn sharp criticism from parents, politicians, and anti-tobacco organizations. Yolonda Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, decried the authorization, calling it a “big step in the wrong direction” given Juul’s historical role in the youth vaping crisis.

Juul CEO K.C. Crosthwaite hailed the decision as a crucial milestone, emphasizing the scientific case for menthol’s role in e-vapor. The company previously discontinued fruit and candy flavors that were popular among teenagers and contributed to its rapid growth.

This authorization places Juul among a select few companies, including Vuse and Njoy, permitted to sell e-cigarettes in the U.S., with Njoy being the only other brand approved for menthol-flavored vapes. The FDA reiterated that its decision is not an endorsement for non-smokers to start using e-cigarettes, stressing that the benefit lies in reducing exposure to carcinogens for smokers who switch completely.

The FDA’s decision follows a tumultuous period for Juul, which saw its products ordered off the market in June 2022 before the agency abruptly reversed course, agreeing to re-evaluate the company’s scientific data. Juul, once valued at over $13 billion, has since paid billions to settle lawsuits related to its impact on youth vaping rates.

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