Vaping device is catching on
used e-cigarettes in 2016.
JUUL vaporizers, which have been on the market for a few years, have a higher concentration of nicotine than the average device, more so comparable to that of a cigarette. Several users said the product has given them a nicotine high.
“I’m pretty much only interested in the JUUL for that reason as well,” said James Sims, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh. “It’s really simple for me to just take one large puff of the JUUL when I’m stressed or even taking a break from studying just to sort of clear myhead and relax.”
Companies are flooding the market with e-cigarette and vape products because regulation is in its early stages — making the industry more like “the Wild West,” Mr. Shadel said. There is no statewide ban of the products in Pennsylvania, although Allegheny County instituted its own in March 2017, barring the use of electronic vapor devices in public indoor places. The state did levy a 40 percent tax on e-cigarettes and related products last December, which led to several local stores closing.
Customers of vape products must be 18 years or older, but the products obviously appeal to younger consumers. Preventing underage use is one of the company’s main focuses, accordingto a spokesperson.
“While we are dedicated to our mission of helping adults switch off of cigarettes, nicotine is addictive and recent science raises serious concerns about the adverse effect of nicotine on adolescent neurodevelopment,” a JUUL spokesperson said in a statement. “We encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers of nicotine. As a company, we also continuously seek ways to contribute to this dialogue andknowledge base.”
To some vape connoisseurs, the JUUL is not worth the hype.
“They’re not well made, and they get broken easily,” Mr. Greco said.
His friend, Ryan Weston, 19, of Allentown, said he started using the product after he quit smoking a year ago, but shifted to other vaporizers because he didn’t find it to be a quality device.