DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — The flash drive-looking e-cigarette known as a Juul could soon become difficult to get your hands on in the US market following a recent order by the Food and Drug Administration.
“The reason that they banned temporarily anyway the Juul e-cigarette is insufficient or possible misleading information about chemicals leaching out of their pods that can be potentially harmful,” said Co-Owner of True Vapor, Trant Bullard.
In recent years, the e-cigarette company has been blamed for sparking a rise in teenage vaping due to the appearance of the vapor and the fruity flavors.
Bullard said he saw a report that showed a 10% increase in youth vaping which can be concerning, but the same study showed a huge decline in youth cigarette smoking.
“The argument that it markets to children is so frustrating with all the fruity flavors alcohol that could be said the same thing,” He said, “The fact that cigarette is the number one health problem in the US other than obesity and its no regulating that.”
Owner Trant Bullard says his store does not sell Juul products, but the e-cigarettes they have in stock are similar. Bullard said manufacturers have to prove their products are safe before it hits their shelves.
“Juul will fix the labeling issue I’m sure all the studies about e-cigs being harmful had to do with the ones that look like cigarettes with that plastic envelope and when it heats up it gets toxic.”
If the ban comes into play, he says it won’t hurt his business but he’s worried it could kickstart regulations on other products.
“There are no carcinogens in a vape-type cigarette and we know how bad cigarettes are so it’s a great alternative I hope they don’t it would be a real shame,” He added.
Right now, the federal court has temporarily blocked the FDA’s ban on the sale of Juul e-cigarettes.