On December 14, according to a report by U.S. news website einnews, Rob Bonta, the Attorney General of California, filed a lawsuit against two e-cigarette online retailers - Ejuicesteals and E-juice Vapor.
Legal proceedings are currently underway in federal courts in the eastern and central regions of California, as Banta accuses these two companies of failing to properly verify the age of California consumers. This alleged failure is seen as a violation of state and federal laws designed to protect the general public, particularly vulnerable groups such as teenagers, from the harm caused by harmful and addictive tobacco products.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General Banta argues that the actions of these two companies are in violation of the PACT Act, California Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law, STAKE Act, and Unfair Competition Law. He is seeking legal accountability through civil fines, compensation, and injunctions against the behavior of these companies.
Banta expressed, "As the legal representative of the people, I cannot stand idly by as e-cigarette online retailers continue to lead our young people into using harmful e-cigarettes and tobacco products. We will take all legal actions against anyone who engages in illegal practices to profit from ensnaring our children in harmful addictive behaviors. Companies such as Ejuicesteals, E-juice Vapor, and others manufacturing this public health hazard will be held accountable.
In today's lawsuit, Bonta claims that Ejuicesteals and E-juice Vapor have violated federal and state regulations, including failing to verify the age of consumers and engaging in remote sales transactions that violate California's tobacco product delivery sales regulations.
Previously, a multi-state settlement agreement worth $460 million was reached between attorney generals and e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL. California is set to receive the highest portion of this settlement, amounting to $175.8 million, making it the largest settlement amount between JUUL and any state.
The settlement funds will assist California in financing research, education, and enforcement efforts related to e-cigarettes. Additionally, JUUL will be prohibited from targeting adolescents in its advertisements and promotions, as stated in the agreement terms.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
