New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alongside New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, announced this week a decisive action against 11 wholesalers selling flavored vaping devices to the city’s middle and high school youth, captivating them with their enticing flavors.
Spread across Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and upstate New York, the 11 defendants face accusations of illicitly vending flavored disposable e-cigarettes. These enticing flavors, ranging from Strawberry Colada to Mellow Mint, Blueberry Energize, and Frozen Creamsicle, have been unlawfully disseminated to retail vape and smoke shops, convenience stores, and even directly to consumers online, contravening federal, New York state, and New York City statutes.
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix announce that the City of New York has filed a lawsuit against 11 wholesalers for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes. City Hall. Thursday, April 4, 2024. [Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.]
“Part of protecting public safety means protecting the health of New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable — our children — and this administration is committed to enforcing the law when it comes to illegal vape sales,” said Mayor Adams.
“This lawsuit will help hold 11 wholesalers accountable for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes at a time when nicotine addiction among middle and high school youth is exploding. We will not stand by and allow this greedy, harmful, and openly illegal behavior to continue.”
Nicotine addiction among middle and high school youth is exploding.
Mayor Eric Adams
The lawsuit, filed in New York County State Supreme Court, aligns with Mayor Adams’ plan outlined in his State of the City address earlier this year. The latest action corresponds with his commitment to collaborate with Albany in empowering local authorities to investigate and close illegal smoke shops. At the same time Adams says he still supports the “equitable growth” of the legal cannabis market and ensuring justice-impacted individuals are not undermined through an illegal market.
Who is sued?
Eleven companies based in New York are sued for selling or distributing flavored disposable e-cigarettes.
1. EnvironMD Group LLC 2. GT Imports 3. Kayla Wholesale, Inc., d/b/a The Vapery 4. KLCC Wholesale Inc. 5. V. Trading, LLC 6. Pioneer Distribution, Inc. a/k/a Wevapeusa.com a/k/a Seller Supreme LLC 7. RZ Smoke Inc. 8. Star Zone Inc. 9. Urban Smoke Distributors 10. Vape More Inc. and More LLC 11. Vape Plus Distribution Corp. a/k/a G&A Distribution
Cartoon-packaged e-cigarettes tempt youth with high nicotine levels
E-cigarettes while perceived as an attractive alternative to smoking due to their cartoon character packaging , often contain nicotine levels surpassing those found in traditional cigarettes. the U.S. Surgeon General and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn that youth tempts kids to “vape” high levels of nicotine.
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix announce that the City of New York has filed a lawsuit against 11 wholesalers for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes. City Hall. Thursday, April 4, 2024. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
Between 2017 and 2019, there was nearly a doubling in e-cigarette usage among young people. In October 2022, the FDA and the CDC disclosed data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, revealing that one in 10 middle and high school students nationwide had used e-cigarettes within a 30-day timeframe. Specifically, 14.1 percent (2.14 million) of high school students and 3.3 percent (380,000) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use.
“Big tobacco is working overtime to create a new generation of smokers by peddling illegal flavored e-cigarettes to our youngest New Yorkers,” said New York State Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair, New York State Assembly’s Committee on Housing.
“However, with my legislation bolstering the city’s efforts to seize illegal vape products, coupled with the city’s efforts to sue e-cigarette wholesalers, we are sending a clear message to corporations that use our kids to pad their bottom lines: their health is not up for grabs,” Rosenthal added.
“I applaud the city for holding these bad actors accountable for their dangerous and deceptive practices, and I will continue to push my legislation so it moves over the finish line this session.”
