RICHMOND, Va., June 11 (UPI) -- Altria Group, maker of Marlboro cigarettes, says it's entering the electronic cigarette market, offering the MarkTen brand through its Nu Mark subsidiary.
Altria, which has its headquarters in Richmond, Va., said in a statement on its website Monday it will roll out the e-cigarettes in Indiana this August.
Altria said Nu Mark also plans to expand distribution in Virginia of its Verve chewable smoking cessation nicotine discs it started test-marketing a year ago.
The Los Angeles Times noted Tuesday Altria is following the path set by other major tobacco product producers such as Lorillard as more people avoid smoking traditional cigarettes over health concerns, high prices and the spread of smoking bans.
E-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine in a disposable cartridge and create a vapor that can be inhaled.
