A new vaping Prohibition Era? Calls to Action for Colorado, Rhode Island, Maine and Hawai’i. Research on snus in Norway, and indigenous youth vaping in Canada. Highly biased vaping research review from Australian government and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // Colorado
After imposing a 30% tax on low risk vapor products (set to rise to 62% by 2027) to help fund universal childcare, lawmakers are now irrationally trying to ban the vast majority of the products they wanted to tax.
TAKE ACTION: Colorado – Stop a Flavor Ban
CALL TO ACTION // Brunswick, Maine
This FLAVOR BAN ordinance is likely to be scheduled for consideration (possible vote) at the next regular council meeting on Monday, April 18th! Tell your city lawmakers why you think this is a HORRIBLE idea!
TAKE ACTION: Brunswick, Maine – Stop a Flavor Ban
CALL TO ACTION // Rhode Island
Four bills that would BAN the sale of flavored vapor products (H7805, H7869, H7870, and H7871) had a public hearing on Tuesday, April 5 in the H. Health and Human Services Committee. At the beginning of the hearing the Chairman stated that all bills would be “held for further study.” This legislation is expected to be heard in the Senate Committee sometime soon.
TAKE ACTION: Rhode Island – Stop Flavor Ban Bills!
CALL TO ACTION // Hawai’i
RESEARCH // Pre-determined Conclusions
Review authors use trickery–such as referring to THC vapes as “e-cigarettes”–biased assumptions (gateway) and misleading exaggerations (poisonings, seizures) to get to their obviously predetermined conclusions.
A report on #vaping commissioned by @healthgovau is seriously flawed and misleading
It fails to compare the small risks of vaping to smoking, exaggerates risks and downplays the benefits to smokers. The report delivers exactly what the paymaster wantedhttps://t.co/2oKZnAmP90
— Colin Mendelsohn (@ColinMendelsohn) April 6, 2022
READ MORE: Vaping causes harm and addiction in ‘new generation’ of users, major report warns
READ EXPERT REBUTTAL: Flawed report on vaping will harm public health
RESEARCH // A False Premise
Researchers base their study on the false premise that youth are “primary target” for vapor products, so ignore the obvious harm reduction potential despite the fact that the smoking rate of Indigenous youth was previously 3X higher than their non-Aboriginal peers.
https://twitter.com/VapinSquirrel/status/1511003760910225417
READ MORE: Factors that influence the decision to vape among Indigenous youth
RESEARCH // Snus Reduces Smoking
In Norway, researchers find safe snus tobacco pouches to be the product most strongly associated with successful smoking cessation–both planned and unplanned (ie. “accidental”) quitting. NRT was most associated with failed quit attempts.
"#Snus and web/mobile use was associated with successful quits, while #NRT was associated with unsuccessful quit attempts. When exclusive use was separated from the combined use of several aids, only #snus was associated with successful quits." #THR https://t.co/0Fa824thio
— Bengt Wiberg (@Stingfreesnus) April 4, 2022
TESTIMONIAL // Anecdote #13,446
What’s YOUR real story? Submit your testimonial today!
COMMENTARY// Welcome to the Nicotine Prohibition Era
Regulators have long targeted tobacco products, but there’s new energy behind outright bans on vapes and cigarettes.
There is a real risk that American tobacco policy will open a regressive new front in the war on drugs, just as the previous crackdown on psychoactive substances begins to wind down.”
~Jacob Grier
READ MORE: Welcome to the Nicotine Prohibition Era
LITIGATION // Triton vs FDA
“For all the frequent talk of an unregulated and irresponsible industry, the precision is striking…all this technology and meticulous handling as consumer protection for the former smokers who use its products. None of it, however, is technically required.”
"There seems to be a widespread misconception that vape producers are either large, well-resourced companies with ties to the tobacco industry or fly-by-night opportunists with anti-government leanings, mixing e-liquid in their parents’ basement." https://t.co/iDJpXf3byy
— Allison (@alli_vapes) April 6, 2022
READ MORE: The Vape Company at the Center of the FDA Storm
FDA // Surprise Decision Against Major Vape Company
This MDO means that some tobacco-flavored vapes don’t “demonstrate that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use would outweigh the risk to youth” when other tobacco-flavored vapes do? Again, FDA fails to define any real “risk to youth.”
The FDA clearly KNOWS that the benefits to 30+ MILLION adults switching to ANY vapor product are SIGNIFICANT risk reduction for cancer, stroke, heart disease & COPD, outweighing risk to fewer 1 million frequent youth users of “possible” nicotine dependency…but WITHOUT the risks associated with smoking.
I am not entirely clear on what the current Blu product line is, but this looks like very ominous news.
If @IMBScience can't meet the FDA's standards for tobacco and menthol products, the number of capable companies can be counted on one hand. https://t.co/bX0txVsyRF pic.twitter.com/J6gOwMVmKO
— Gregory Conley (@GregTHR) April 8, 2022
READ MORE: FDA Issues Marketing Denial Orders to Fontem US for myblu Products
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
If you missed the most recent CASAA Live show, check out the replay now! CASAA Live is on Saturdays at 4:30 PM ET/3:30 PM CT/2:30 PM MT/1:30 PM PT on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter!
TAKE ACTION // CASAA State Facebook Groups
Have you joined your CASAA State Facebook group yet? Check it out now! Click the link below, click on your state on the map, then click the “Join Now” button to go to your state’s group page. It’s as easy as that to stay updated on local happenings, meet local advocates and never miss a Call to Action in your state!
Don’t forget to also follow our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CASAAmedia
FIND YOUR GROUP: CASAA State Locator
CASAA STORE // Apparel and More
Show your support by shopping our store! Our president (and brilliant website/swag designer) Danielle has added some awesome new designs to CASAA’s apparel shop, plus there are still Black Friday deals on all items!
VISIT: CASAA Apparel and Swag Store
CASAA MEDIA // Podcast
Catch up on past tobacco harm reduction news with Alex and Logan on the CASAA podcasts on SoundCloud every Monday and now live on YouTube and Facebook every Saturday at 3:30 PM.
SoundCloud: