Utah – [Concluded] Stop Arbitrary Limits on Nicotine Content!

People who use nicotine do so because it feels good. Be it relief from stress, depression, or anxiety, or simply marking or passing time, people use nicotine for their own reasons and perceive a benefit. Across the spectrum of products, nicotine delivery varies due to route of administration (e.g. oral mucosa, lungs, transdermal, etc.). In some cases, like vaping, for example, people can moderate (or titrate) nicotine delivery by changing power settings or simply consuming more or less nicotine-containing material. Perhaps one of the best examples of low-nicotine delivery causing harm is the case of “light” and “low-tar” cigarettes, which led to people inhaling more smoke deeper into their lungs in order to achieve a nicotine yield similar to smoking regular cigarettes.

A pillar of harm reduction strategies is the concept of meeting people where they are. In the case of smoking, people are accustomed to a certain level of nicotine delivery. In order to provide low-risk alternatives that appeal to people who smoke, it makes sense that alternatives to smoking deliver a similar, satisfying dose of nicotine. It is also important that such an alternative mimics the form factor and rituals of the products it’s replacing. When it comes to vaping specifically, this means smaller devices with shorter battery life that provides less energy to a heating element, compared to more advanced devices. Compensating for these limitations requires a higher concentration of nicotine to produce a similar nicotine yield.

For some people, a 3% cap on nicotine concentration may be enough to convince them that they can move away from smoking, while others will accept such products as a proof of concept, but still search for more satisfying products–even if that means continuing to smoke. Some supporters of a nicotine cap argue that people new to vaping will migrate to specialty shops in search of more powerful devices that can deliver a familiar dose from e-liquids with lower concentrations of nicotine. Moreover, studies show that the specialized services these shops offer, including expert instruction and peer-to-peer advice, helps people transition completely away from combustion compared to people shopping retail environments like convenience stores and gas stations.

While CASAA supports claims and research showing that people who shop at specialty vape shops are more likely to switch completely to a smoke-free product, at the same time it remains vital to meet people where they are. In practice, this means ensuring that people who smoke are aware of and have access to safer, enjoyable nicotine products in the same places where they buy cigarettes. CASAA is opposed to establishing a nicotine cap on any e-liquids used in either closed- or open-system products.