Community Input for Minnesota’s 2023 JUUL Settlement Funds

The Minnesota Department of Health conducted an extensive community input process to engage partners in how to use funds from Minnesota’s 2023 JUUL Settlement Agreement. In Fall 2023, the input process included meetings with community partners, primarily grantees and staff from across the Department. In 2024, input was gathered from individuals and organizations, building on input from the previous year. Participants were able to provide feedback via online survey or attending in-person or virtual community input sessions.

In total, more than 250 people from communities across the state provided valuable input for this process.

Community feedback

Based on the input gathered during the first phase of the process, the parameters in the legislation, Minnesota Comprehensive Commercial Tobacco Control Framework 2022-2026 (PDF), and CDC Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, the Department has identified five possible funding initiatives. These initiatives will reduce and prevent youth initiation of commercial tobacco products, advance racial and health equity around commercial tobacco use, and provide opportunities to develop innovative strategies.

• Policy initiatives
• Culturally driven cessation initiatives
• School-based initiatives
• Innovative initiatives
• Other community-specific initiatives

Community input summary

The documents below provide a summary and synthesis of community input received to-date. The Department continues to assess this input, as well as gaps in input received, as funding decisions are considered.

• Executive Summary (PDF)
• JUUL Settlement Community Input Process Report (PDF)

For questions about the settlement or the input process, email tobacco@state.mn.us.

Minnesota vs. JUUL Labs

In 2019, the state of Minnesota sued JUUL Labs, Inc. on behalf of the people of Minnesota for violating Minnesota’s consumer-protection laws, breaching its duty of reasonable care, and creating a public nuisance. The complaint (PDF) alleged JUUL developed products with more addictive doses of nicotine than other commercial tobacco products but represented that its products are a safe alternative. The complaint also asserted JUUL developed trendy products and popular flavors designed to appeal to youth, and claimed JUUL neglected its duties to verify its customers’ ages and institute adequate controls to prevent underage Minnesotans from purchasing its products.

Prior to this lawsuit, commercial tobacco use rose dramatically among Minnesota youth. In October 2019, Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey data showed that over the prior three years, the percentage of 11th graders in Minnesota who vaped in the last 30 days grew more than 50%, the percentage of 9th graders grew 75%, and the percentage of 8th graders grew nearly 100%. Moreover, 75% of Minnesota youth who used e-cigarettes had never smoked a cigarette before.

• Read Data Highlights from the 2020 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey (PDF).

E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Because the brain is still developing until about age 25, youth and young adult exposure to nicotine can lead to addiction and disrupt attention and learning. 

Learn more about Health Risks of Nicotine for Youth.

Settlement agreement

On May 17, 2023, Minnesota’s Office of the Attorney General announced a settlement agreement with JUUL Labs. Under the terms of the agreement, JUUL and Altria (JUUL Labs’ parent company) will together pay a total of $60.5 million to the state of Minnesota. The value of Minnesota’s settlement with JUUL and Altria is the largest per capita of all 48 states and territories that have settled with JUUL.

In addition to paying the State’s legal costs, including the costs of litigation and attorney’s fees, the settlement agreement also: 

• Prohibits JUUL from marketing and selling to children and young adults, including use of models under the age of 35, advertising on apparel, entertainment, and social media platforms, and the sale of flavored products; 
• Restricts JUUL’s ability to sponsor events and use outdoor advertising in Minnesota; 
• Prevents JUUL from distributing product samples;
• Requires that JUUL accurately disclose the nicotine content of JUUL products; 
• Directs how JUUL products may be sold in-store and limiting online sales; and 
• Creates a retailer compliance program for Minnesota stores to ensure that JUUL products are being sold with proper age verification.

The settlement also requires JUUL and Altria to publish their internal documents related to the litigation in a public document depository.

Read the Consent Judgement (PDF).

Settlement funds

Legislation passed in 2023 which established a new tobacco use prevention account for settlement funds. Minn. Statute 144.398 states the funds in the tobacco use prevention account are appropriated to the commissioner of health to award funds under current commercial tobacco statutes. Under Minn. Statute 144.398, in activities funded under the tobacco use prevention account, the commissioner of health must:

• Prioritize preventing people under the age of 21 from using commercial tobacco, electronic delivery devices, tobacco-related devices, and nicotine delivery products.
• Promote racial and health equity; and
• Use strategies that are evidence-based or based on promising practices.

Learn more

About the lawsuit and settlement

• State of Minnesota v. JUUL Labs, Inc. (2019) – Public Health Law Center
• JUUL Litigation Settlement Guide and Interactive Map – Public Health Law Center
• 7/27/23: How to Spend JUUL Settlement Funds: Champion Our Children, Target Commercial Tobacco – Public Health Law Center
• JUUL Lawsuit Update September 2023 – Forbes Advisor
• School Districts’ Legal Battle with JUUL Isn’t Over – Education Week

Other resources

• E-cigarettes and Vaping
• Health Risks of Nicotine for Youth
• Youth E-cigarette Prevention and Cessation Initiative