Voters To Decide Fate Of Citywide E-Cigarette Sales Amid Vaping Concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



San Franciscans will vote on Tuesday whether to overturn legislation passed by the city's Board of Supervisors earlier this year banning the sale of electronic cigarettes, pending a review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.



The ban is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 unless voters pass Proposition C on Nov. 5, which would completely snuff out the supervisors' earlier decision.



Although San Francisco-based e-cigarette maker Juul Labs initially backed the Yes on Prop C campaign, about a month ago it announced it would step away from actively supporting Proposition C.



The company said it would instead focus on working cooperatively with regulators, policymakers and stakeholders to combat underage use while providing an alternative for adult cigarette smokers.



According to the coalition San Francisco Kids vs. Big Tobacco, Prop C was written by Juul with tobacco industry insiders not only to sell tobacco to minors, but also in order to prevent the Board of Supervisors from banning e-cigarettes in the future.



Electronic cigarettes, also known as vape pens, have come under fire recently after more than 500 people nationwide reported having lung damage associated with vape products.



According the California Department of Public Health, as of Tuesday, 144 people statewide have reported severe breathing problems or lung damage possibly associated with vaping. Three people in California have died, CDPH officials said.



While Juul has maintained that its products can be used as an alternative for adults who want to avoid combustible cigarettes, earlier this month the company announced it would suspend the sale of non-tobacco, non-menthol-based flavored products in the U.S., pending a review by the Food and Drug Administration.



The announcement comes after the FDA sent a warning letter in September to the company alleging it was making advertising claims for its e-cigarettes without FDA authorization.



In a new revelation on Tuesday, former Juul employee Siddarth Breja filed a lawsuit against the company in federal court, alleging it had "total disregard for the law, public safety, and public health," when it shipped about a million mint-flavored vaping pods that were contaminated.



When Breja tried to object to the shipment of the contaminated pods, he was fired in retaliation, the lawsuit alleges.



In a statement, Juul spokesman Ted Kwong responded to the suit, saying, "Mr. Breja's claims are baseless. He was terminated in March 2019 because he failed to demonstrate the leadership qualities needed in his role."



Kwong said, "The allegations concerning safety issues with Juul products are equally meritless, and we already investigated the underlying manufacturing issue and determined the product met all applicable specifications. The company will vigorously defend this lawsuit."





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