Cancer society applauds certification of class-action against e-cigarette maker JUUL

The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a national class-action lawsuit against Juul Labs Canada, Ltd., Juul Labs Inc., and Altria Group Inc. This legal milestone, stemming from a 2019 filing, allows the case to proceed on its merits rather than as individual lawsuits. The litigation alleges that JUUL products were falsely marketed as safe alternatives to traditional cigarettes and that the companies engaged in a conspiracy to addict young people to nicotine.

The Canadian Cancer Society has welcomed the decision, noting that it is the first national class-action lawsuit ever certified against a tobacco or vaping company in Canada. Rob Cunningham, a policy analyst with the society, suggested that the delay in certification may have been part of a long-standing industry strategy to stall legal accountability. He emphasized that the certification is a crucial procedural step, as individual litigation would be prohibitively expensive for most plaintiffs against well-funded defendants.

As the legal process moves forward, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling for stronger government regulations to combat rising youth vaping rates. Proposed measures include increased taxation, stricter marketing and sales restrictions, limitations on vape flavors, and raising the minimum legal age to 21. The B.C. government has also initiated its own lawsuit against JUUL regarding health care costs associated with vaping products.

(Source：CP24 Toronto)