JUUL electronic cigarette, Photo Date: September 2018 / Photo: Pixabay / (MGN)

By Katey Cook

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (WYMT)- A school district in Kentucky is planning to sue electronic cigarette companies for creating ‘an epidemic of nicotine addiction affecting student health and school learning environments.’

Sister station WKYT reports news outlets are saying the Bullitt County Board of Education announced on Wednesday plans to sue Juul and other industry manufacturers, distributers and retailers. Juul controls about two-thirds of the nation’s e-cigarette market and is facing other investigations by Congress and federal regulators.

On Monday, the district unanimously passed a resolution to sue the companies. Superintendent Jesse Bacon said this is an opportunity to hold the companies accountable.

Attorney Ron Johnson will represent the district. He says Juul has focused its marketing on children through “insidious social media campaigns and influencers” and falsely marketed e-cigarettes as a safe alternative to tobacco.