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Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

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Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#21
post #7

> 28% of high school students this year said they had used an e-cigarette at least once in the past 30 days Holy smokes! If you look at data from a few years ago [1] that's more than double what you'd see for cigarette smoking (eyeballing the numbers here, the data is more granular). Is it easier for kids to get e-cigs than cigarettes? Or do they just want them more? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK294302/table…

1. They taste better 2. Yes, they are easier to get, for a couple reasons: once you have a juul you only need juul pods, and additionally you don't need to purchase a lighter (which you need to be over eighteen a lot of places to purchase). edit 3. They are far more discreet (you can vape in a classroom if you are in the back and it is dark) and deliver more nicotine.

Why is it easier to buy juul pods than a pack of cigarettes?

And I'm not aware of any place in the states you need to be over 18 to buy a lighter - and as a former dumbass teenager, I don't think kids have difficulty in figuring out how to light things on fire.

Discretion makes sense, but I feel like rationalizing an irrational decision here. Wouldn't it be more discrete not to vape?

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#22

The world is burning to the ground but at least these damn kids won't have Mango flavored e-cigs anymore. What a lovely use of our resources.

I completely disagree, investigating vaping companies for targeting kids is absolutely worthwhile. Big tobacco was prohibited from advertising is various media for creating characters like Joe Camel, only to circumvent the spirit of the law via the internet. Vaping is killing kids, how is this not a valid use of resources?

It really isn't killing kids, and I would challenge that they are 'targeting them'. As an adult vape user, I love the fruit flavors. They are for my (adult) use only. I would never let someone under 21 get access to this. Why should I be penalized because lots of kids are breaking the law?

The recent (adult) deaths from Vaping are due to black market THC cartridges filled with vitamin e acetate. It is very likely the kids are obtaining (safe) retail product, which is a failure in retail process, not the manufacturer. While it is a bad thing that school aged children are illegal acquiring Juul -- how is this different (or even worse) than Alcohol? We should investigate alcohol vendors for making tasty beverages too. Can't have flavors that adults might like...

There is a combination of events occurring simultaneously that is making it hard for folks to objectively understand the problem, and if there is actually a problem at all.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#23
post #17

> The San Francisco company has said it never marketed to teens Says a company that: • Recruited social media "influencers" to post about Juul • Sponsored programs at schools and summer camps • Ran "youth education" and "holistic health education" programs where they told teenagers about the dangers of nicotine and (reportedly) that using their product was safe

Source?

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#24
post #17

> The San Francisco company has said it never marketed to teens Says a company that: • Recruited social media "influencers" to post about Juul • Sponsored programs at schools and summer camps • Ran "youth education" and "holistic health education" programs where they told teenagers about the dangers of nicotine and (reportedly) that using their product was safe

Is this for real?

Do you have sources for the last 2 statements?

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#25
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. They taste better 2. Yes, they are easier to get, for a couple reasons: once you have a juul you only need juul pods, and additionally you don't need to purchase a lighter (which you need to be over eighteen a lot of places to purchase). edit 3. They are far more discreet (you can vape in a classroom if you are in the back and it is dark) and deliver more nicotine.

Why is it easier to buy juul pods than a pack of cigarettes? And I'm not aware of any place in the states you need to be over 18 to buy a lighter - and as a former dumbass teenager, I don't think kids have difficulty in figuring out how to light things on fire. Discretion makes sense, but I feel like rationalizing an irrational decision here. Wouldn't it be more discrete not to vape?

I personally remember being a teenager in California trying to buy a lighter to smoke and it was not straightforward. Indeed, I ended up being successful, but I had to use a stove lighter we had lying around my house.

Huh? Are you saying that teenagers behave completely rationally? We just wanted to rip our magic flight launch boxes while watching bill nye. It would have been more discrete to sit down and shut up.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#26
post #23
post #17

> The San Francisco company has said it never marketed to teens Says a company that: • Recruited social media "influencers" to post about Juul • Sponsored programs at schools and summer camps • Ran "youth education" and "holistic health education" programs where they told teenagers about the dangers of nicotine and (reportedly) that using their product was safe

Source?

The source is the article this discussion is linked to.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#28
post #6

> 28% of high school students this year said they had used an e-cigarette at least once in the past 30 days Holy smokes! If you look at data from a few years ago [1] that's more than double what you'd see for cigarette smoking (eyeballing the numbers here, the data is more granular). Is it easier for kids to get e-cigs than cigarettes? Or do they just want them more? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK294302/table…

Juuls are pervasive in modern day high school. Either you have one or your friend has one. My little sister told me that the bathrooms are basically used vape-stations between classes now, and most people have tried it.

Depends on the school, of course.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Conducting Criminal Probe of Juul

#29
post #17

> The San Francisco company has said it never marketed to teens Says a company that: • Recruited social media "influencers" to post about Juul • Sponsored programs at schools and summer camps • Ran "youth education" and "holistic health education" programs where they told teenagers about the dangers of nicotine and (reportedly) that using their product was safe

Is this for real? Do you have sources for the last 2 statements?

There are tons of sources for this.

From the house oversight committee - https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/economic-and...

NYTimes - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/health/juul-teens-vaping....

Others - https://nypost.com/2019/07/26/juul-targeted-teens-by-spendin...

The FTC has already been investigating them for a while now as well - https://www.wsj.com/articles/juuls-marketing-practices-under...

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