The Adams administration has asked a Manhattan judge to step in and immediately crack down on the sale of illegal flavored e-cigarettes by 11 New York state wholesalers.
The city filed a lawsuit against the wholesaler in April, citing data showing that children and teens are addicted to flavored e-cigarettes at alarming rates.
Now the city attorney Preliminary injunction To force illegal flavored e-cigarette sellers to immediately cease their harmful practices.
“We have already filed lawsuits to hold these distributors accountable, but the complaint we have filed will help ensure that they cannot continue to sell this poison to children while this case is pending,” Adams said in a statement after the motion for the injunction was filed Monday.
The city’s lawsuit Filed in Manhattan Supreme Courtalleges that 11 wholesalers located in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and upstate New York are accused of selling e-cigarettes in violation of local, state and federal laws.
“Flavored e-cigarettes are a gateway to nicotine addiction. 81 percent of first-time 12- to 17-year-olds started with a flavored product,” Hizzoner said in April.
“Nicotine addiction among middle and high school students is skyrocketing because of the actions of companies like the 11 Defendants,” Adams said.
City investigators were able to place orders directly with wholesalers, according to court records.
Investigators were also able to find sales invoices from e-cigarette retailers in the city, according to the documents.
The preliminary injunction doesn’t allege that agents purchased any products since the lawsuit was filed in April, but it does note that the illegal flavors are still listed on the seller’s website.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and penalties, as well as a ban on e-cigarette sellers who are trying to get kids addicted to nicotine with flavors like Strawberry Colada and Blueberry Energize.
This incident The city plans to file a federal lawsuit in 2023.has already named two wholesalers and is seeking millions of dollars in damages.
A February poll found that New Yorkers give law enforcement a low rating when it comes to enforcing the law against illegal e-cigarette sellers, with 53 percent saying authorities were only “fairly” or “inadequately” enforcing the ban.
Lawyers representing the e-cigarette retailers sued did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
