How much do JUUL pods cost? In addition to the toll these products may take on the health of underage users, they may also take a toll on their paychecks. According to a recent report from Market Watch, teens and other underage users of e-cigarettes or vape pens may be spending over $1,000 a year on these products.

How Much Do JUUL Pods Cost for School Kids?

According to one teenager who spoke with Market Watch, she spends as much as $25 a week on JUUL pods. Some users spend much more than that, depending on which flavors they prefer and how much nicotine they need. Although a four-pack of JUUL pods sells for $15.99 on JUUL’s website, online nicotine retailers now require purchasers to prove their age before buying. Additionally, due to the recent ban on fruity JUUL pod flavors, the price of JUUL pods has gone up. Underage users who go through a four-pack of JUUL pods in a week may be spending between $20 and $35 a week, or between $1,000 and $2,000 a year.

Laws Against Selling E-cigarettes to Minors

In January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to ban fruity flavored JUUL pods. Instead of pulling the existing stock of JUUL pods in flavors such as mango or creme from the market, JUUL has simply agreed not to restock these flavors once the supply runs out. Instead, the flavors that will be available for purchase will be limited to tobacco, mint, and menthol.

Although the ban is meant in part to curb the use of nicotine products by teens and other underage users, there are some loopholes that minors have been quick to exploit. The ban on flavored nicotine pods only applies to pre-filled cartridge pods and excludes tank pods that allow users to manually fill their vapes with a liquid of their choice. Additionally, disposable vapes are also excluded under the ban, allowing companies that make non-refillable e-cigarettes to continue selling these items in flavors such as watermelon or banana ice.

According to some teachers and other workers who are in close contact with teens, many of these e-cigarette users have simply switched over to using flavored disposable vapes. Other underage users have resorted to purchasing JUUL pods illegally, through third parties and resellers. Although it is illegal for companies to sell nicotine to people under the age of 21, or for anyone to purchase nicotine products with the intent to resell them to minors, many youth smokers are still finding ways to obtain flavored JUUL pods.

Where Are Teens Buying JUUL Pods From?

As reputable nicotine sellers have cracked down on underage use and most online retailers now require proof of age, teens are having to find their JUUL pods through other means. Many teens now purchase these pods through pod dealers, or people over the age of 21 who purchase JUUL pods legally and then resell them to underage smokers.

What Is a Pod Dealer?

A JUUL pod dealer is someone who is of legal age to buy JUUL pods and other nicotine products, who purchases these items from online or brick-and-mortar retailers and then sells them to underage nicotine users at an inflated price. While purchasing a four-pack of tobacco, mint, or menthol JUUL pods directly from JUUL may cost a little under $16, a JUUL pod dealer may resell the pack for $20. For packs in fruity flavors, they may be resold for $30 to $35.

Educational Costs of Vaping

According to the Truth Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating tobacco use, more than five million youth vape in the U.S. and one million of them vape every day. 

Teachers report to Truth Initiative that vaping causes “constant disruptions” and that they have seen a decline in students’ abilities to stayed focused and manage self-control.

One teacher said, they almost feel like prison guards who are looking for contraband when it comes to policing the vapers at school. So many students now vape that the typical vaper is not someone who would be seen as a rebel, but encompasses all types of students.

Half of teachers surveyed believed their school’s vaping policies were not effective because of problems detecting who is vaping, lack of parents’ support and limited resources to control the situation. Teachers themselves said they didn’t feel they were well-versed enough to provide counseling to youth or their parents regarding vaping, its ill effects or how to quit vaping.

The Truth Initiative said nearly one-third of teachers believed academic performance was negatively affected by vaping. One teacher said students become addicted to vaping because of the nicotine, but still don’t believe they are addicted. Mood swings, lack of concern for dropping grades or a change in the friends they associate with are all signs of addiction, said the teacher.

Another teacher reported she had to change the way she teaches because of vaping-related interruptions. She said she used to teach with a project-based method but had to switch to a lecture because the students’ attention spans weren’t satisfactory.

Health Costs of JUUL Pods

Consumers wondering how much do JUUL pods cost, may also want to factor in the potential health risks associated with these products. Use of e-cigarettes and vape pens has been associated with health problems including vape-related lung illness, nicotine poisoning, cardiovascular issues, gastrointestinal problems, neurological side effects, damaged or delayed brain development, and seizures.

Victims who have experienced severe health problems after using JUUL pods may be able to hire a qualified attorney to review their case and determine whether they are eligible to file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Victims may be able to collect financial compensation for injuries, medical expenses, or pain and suffering related to their JUUL use.

Join a Free JUUL Use in Schools Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you are a school administrator who has seen the negative impact of e-cigarettes on campus and you would like to hold e-cigarette manufacturers accountable for their marketing of their products to youth, submit your information now for a free case evaluation.

If you qualify, an experienced e-cigarette attorney who has worked with other school districts will contact you to discuss your options.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented 
for informational purposes only.