Kansas City, MO Call to Action. Dr. Rodu and a Forbes article expose anti-tobacco tactics. Guy Bentley warns Maine not to follow Massachusetts flavor ban. Report spins on teen vaping. UK study questions public use bans while government reviews tobacco snus ban. COVID increased smoking rates. SCOTUS ends FDA lawsuit.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION UPDATE // Kansas City, Missouri
City Council has moved forward, again, with an ordinance banning sale of flavored vapor & other smoke-free products. CASAA makes it easy to submit a written comment–just click the link!
READ MORE: Kansas City, MO – Stop a Flavor Ban
DO MORE: If you live in Missouri, join the CASAA Missouri Facebook Group
ADVOCACY // Exposing Anti Tobacco Tactics
Dr. Brad Rodu reveals the tactic used for ending all nicotine use – “TIP TOE.” The idea that any “compromise” will get them to back off is naive. Each & every concession is just a small step towards accomplishing their “end game” goal.
The TIP-TOE war on tobacco flavors escalates — tobacco prohibitionists continue their long game, which I’ve dubbed “Tacit Incremental Prohibition – Tobacco Elimination” https://t.co/oOcUOtmjoe pic.twitter.com/4koSrK0F8E
— Brad Rodu (@BradRodu) June 10, 2021
THE MORE YOU KNOW // Exposing Media Anti-Vaping Bias
A headline by Forbes Magazine, which is usually harm reduction-friendly, states e-cigarettes “Are Likely As Harmful To The Brain As Regular Cigarettes,” yet the evidence presented in the article is no more than a lot of “may, could, might, we don’t know” claims. It’s also mainly based on studies about smoke and smoking, which has toxins that affect the brain not found in vapor products.
Ironically, Steve Forbes is adamantly opposed to the lies being told about vapor products.
From Mr. Forbes himself
The War Against E-Cigarettes Is Profoundly Wronghttps://t.co/JD4R01JOET
— Phil (@phil_w888) November 12, 2019
READ MORE: Accumulating Evidence Suggests E-Cigarettes Are Likely As Harmful To The Brain As Regular Smoking
RESEARCH // Exposing Anti-Vaping Spin
Headlines focus on 1 in 5 teens vaping “at least one puff in past 30 days,” however the data also shows–but CDC report doesn’t highlight–that only 4.4% are “daily” vapers, an accepted marker for dependency. The “Tobacco End Game” goal is often stated as having a smoking rate under 5%.
Breakdown? 19.6 out of 100 students vaped in the past 30 days. Daily vapers were 22.5% of the 19.6, so 19.6 × 0.225 = 4.4/100. Daily use is seen as a dependency indicator. So just 4.4% of all surveyed students nicotine dependent—LOWER than smoking “end game” goal of 5%.
— Kristin Noll-Marsh (@Noll_Marsh) June 8, 2021
STUDY LINK: Study: Youth vaping down, but 1 in 5 U.S. teens still using e-cigarettes
RESEARCH // Policy Consequences
UK study finds public vaping bans could not only deter around 85,000 people from quitting smoking, but would disproportionately affect the disadvantaged. Urge weighing “negligible risks to bystanders” against great risks of smoking.
Businesses are increasingly extending smoking bans to include vaping, despite this not being required by law.
Our new paper in @NTR_Journal explores how use of e-cigs where smoking is not permitted has changed over time.
— Sarah Jackson (@DrSarahEJackson) June 8, 2021
RESEARCH // Impact of COVID Pandemic on Smoking
Study finds fear of greater risks from COVID did little to decrease smoking. Unfortunately, we’ll never know if smoking would have declined had the State not banned appealing vapor flavors & made vaping much more expensive with a 75% tax. And if public health groups hadn’t warned people vaping carried the same risks as smoking, without any scientific evidence to support the claim!
How the pandemic affected smokers https://t.co/BWMvwhPyUI via @wsmv
— Insights @ VUMC (@VUMC_Insights) June 11, 2021
READ MORE: How the pandemic affected smokers
COMMENTARY // Anti-vaping Policy Analysis
“Maine has the chance to learn from—and avoid—the self-created problems that ill-advised flavored tobacco bans are causing in Massachusetts and San Francisco.”
~Guy Bentley, Reason
READ MORE: Maine Should Learn From Massachusetts’ Failed Flavored Tobacco Ban
IN THE NEWS // FDA
The US Supreme Court declined to review a challenge to FDA’s authority under the Tobacco Control Act. Unfortunately, rejection by the high court means the lower court decisions stand and there is no further legal path for the lawsuit.
Supreme Court Rejects Big Time Vapes Appeal.
By Jim McDonald @whycherrywhy https://t.co/jg717TkFqM— Vaping360 (@Vaping360) June 11, 2021
READ MORE: Supreme Court Rejects Big Time Vapes Appeal
PUBLIC HEALTH // Bad Public Health
Fargo Cass Public Health Tobacco Prevention Educator Melissa Markegard recklessly, inaccurately and (arguably) unethically tells reporter (and anyone reading the article,) “Vapes are not safer than cigarettes.”
This seems like a good time to repost Helen Redmond's excellent "Harm Reduction Guide for Parents of Teens Who Vape" https://t.co/Kc8Is5CHc2 @aftariak @Filtermag_org
— Amelia Howard (@Amelia_RH) September 12, 2019
READ MORE: Here’s what parents need to know to combat vaping
PUBLIC HEALTH // Good Public Health
The UK is finally reviewing the evidence (really–lack thereof) for the EU ban on smoke-free snus! Snus has been instrumental in Sweden reaching a smoking rate below the “end game” 5% and 30 years of research has found snus does NOT increase risk for any disease.
Excellent news! The British Government have announced a review into Swedish Snus. It has the ability to help Britain achieve Smoke Free 2030. #SnusSavesLives @AdamAfriyie @DavidJonesMP @SnusAssociation @Jochurchill4 @Eu4Snus Brexit Dividend pic.twitter.com/oz64VHTfPM
— Mark Oates (@MOates_) June 10, 2021
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 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.