Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration took a surprising step by banning the sale of all products made by Juul, once the vaping market leader, saying that the agency had cause for concern about caustic chemicals in its e-cigarettes. The industry had been waiting for an FDA decision on Juul based on the purported addictiveness of e-cigarettes, and its marketing tactics, particularly directed at teens. Now, the FDA has reversed course on the Juul ban, noting that the company’s application to sell vaping products requires a second look due to “scientific issues” and that there are, in fact, more Juul documents to review. It’s not unusual for the FDA to do this, but the flip-flop with such a high-profile company that has been routinely chastised by lawmakers, anti-tobacco advocates, and the press for its role in fueling the underage nicotine epidemic is embarrassing. At a time when teens as young as middle school students are vaping both nicotine and marijuana in record numbers, the FDA should be acting responsibly to assess e-cigarettes and their potential health impacts. It has also given the vaping industry hope that thousands of other vaping products under FDA review will find favor and soon be back on store shelves. The FDA needs to get its act together, assess the science, take a firm stand on e-cigarettes, and decide on tough regulations that protect vulnerable populations from these highly addictive products.
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies