San Francisco Bans Vape Devices Until FDA Approval

San Francisco Bans Non-FDA Approved Vape Devices

San Francisco, California voted to ban the sale of vape devices, unless those vape devices were first submitted to the FDA and approved under the FDA’s Premarket Approval (PMA).  This ban applies not just to local retailers but also online retailers, who are barred from shipping purchased product to San Francisco customers.  The ban on nicotine vaporizers is the first of its kind in the nation.

The ordinance will go into effect seven months after it is signed by the Mayor. She is expected to sign. Non-flavored cigarettes will remain available from non-pharmacy retail. San Francisco pharmacies were banned from selling tobacco products in 2008 .

JUUL Labs Headquartered in San Francisco

JUUL Labs, maker of the popular Juul vape, is headquartered in San Francisco.  JUUL Labs and San Francisco public officials are at odds regarding the vape companies history of targeting minors with youth friendly marketing. In anticipation of the ban JUUL Labs formed the “Coalition for Reasonable Vaping Regulation”, which is gathering signatures for a ballot petition to keep vaping devices on the market. JUUL Labs claims they have enough signatures already to send the petition to voters during the next election.

Underage Vaping Lawsuit

A study estimated half of JUUL Labs twitter followers were underage, an unfortunate problem for a company trying to change its image as a seller of nicotine to children.

JUUL faces multiple lawsuits around the country for targeting minors, promoting products through social media with the use of young models, and leaving underage teens with severe addictions. These tactics helped JUUL gain a majority share of the vaping market and a large share of the FDA’s ire after data showed vaping nearly doubled in 2018.

Does Vaping Cause Lung Damage or Gum Disease?

Despite initial hype vaping could deliver nicotine without the risks of traditional tobacco, studies reviewing the risks are showing more health risks than initially promoted. Possible risks include:

• “Popcorn Lung”: Permanent scarring of bronchial tubes, also known as Bronchiolitis Obliterans.
• “Wet Lung”: Respiratory failure and lung scarring, also know as “Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.
• Explosion Burns: Exploding batteries in vape mods or recalled Vuse Vibe devices have maimed and killed.
• Vape Gum Disease: Vaping can destroy the gum, which can lead to rotting teeth or tooth death.
• Lung Damage: A study of vaping mice showed similar levels of lung damage leading to COPD vs cigarettes.
• Heart Attack: Vapers suffered double the rate of heart attacks vs non-smokers.

Vape Lawyers

Levin Simes is investigating claims of lung damage from vape devices, exploding vape batteries, and underage addiction from JUUL devices marketed to children. If you or a loved one has been injured, please contact a vape lawyer about investigating a claim at (415) 426-3000 or at info@levinsimes.com.

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