Juul will pay California, other states $462 million to settle suits alleging it targeted teens

E-cigarette maker Juul will pay nearly half a billion dollars as part of a settlement with six states, including California, and the District of Columbia.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his counterparts in Colorado, D.C., Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico and New York announced the $462 million settlement Wednesday morning.

California’s share comes to $175.8 million, which the state will use to fund research, education and enforcement related to e-cigarettes. California last year voted to ban the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including vaping supplies.

“By using advertising and marketing strategies to lure young people to its products, Juul put the health and safety of its vulnerable targets and the California public at risk. Today’s settlement holds Juul accountable for its actions and puts a stop to its harmful business practices,” Bonta said in a statement.

Juul did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.

Ina statement, a Juul spokesman said that the company has now spent more than $1 billion in settlements with 47 states and territories. The spokesman said that since a “company-wide reset” in 2019, underage use of Juul products has dropped by 95%, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey.

“Now we are positioned to dedicate even greater focus on our path forward to maximize the value and impact of our product technology and scientific foundation,” the spokesman said.

The settlement is the result of a multitude of lawsuits against the e-cigarette company, including from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

LA DA George Gascón said in a statement that Juul “is going to pay a steep price for its mistakes.”

Juul was valued at $1 billion last October, according to a January report from the Wall Street Journal.

According to a 2021 survey by the California Department of Public Health, Juul was the most popular brand among teenage e-cigarette users.