Calls to Action for Maryland, Kansas and North Dakota. Vaping research should weigh different risks. Heads up Arizona and Mississippi. Outrage over COVID vaccine priority. Commentaries on vape bans from Inside Sources and Citizens Against Government Waste. Considering vaping alternatives.
CALL TO ACTION // Maryland
SB 273, a flavor ban, online sales ban & more–what local vaping advocates are calling a “nuclear option”–is scheduled for a tightly controlled “public” hearing Jan. 28th @ 1PM. Take action and contact your lawmakers NOW! Join and follow CASAA for Call to Action updates!
TAKE ACTION: Stop a Flavor Ban – No on SB 273!
DO MORE: If you live in Maryland, join the CASAA Maryland Facebook Group
CALL TO ACTION // North Dakota
There is a hearing scheduled for SB 2189, a 28% VAPE TAX that DISCOURAGES adults from quitting smoking, is scheduled TOMORROW @ 9:30 AM! CASAA even provides talking points, so TAKE ACTION NOW and submit your written testimony BEFORE 8:30 AM! Join and follow CASAA for Call to Action updates!
TAKE ACTION: Stop a Vape Tax- No on SB 2189!
DO MORE: If you live in North Dakota, join the CASAA North Dakota Facebook Group
CALL TO ACTION // Kansas
HB 2061 would ban flavors and prohibit public vaping–even in private businesses that currently allow people to vape! Now is the time for Kansas advocates to make contact with lawmakers and urge them to oppose HB 2061! Join and follow CASAA for Call to Action updates!
TAKE ACTION: Stop a Flavor Ban – No on HB 2061!
DO MORE: If you live in Kansas, join the CASAA Kansas Facebook Group
HEADS UP // Phoenix, Arizona Flavor Ban
City considering a FLAVOR BAN & they haven’t heard from CONSUMERS as to why this is BAD FOR PUBLIC HEALTH! Let @CityofPhoenixAZ know why opposition isn’t “just businesses worried about lost profits.” Join and follow CASAA for Call to Action updates!!
Dunno why Phoenix, AZ is trying to ban e-cigarettes when youth vaping is already at levels lower than in 2015. Maybe look at what happened between 2015 & 2017 to see why vaping went down? Sure wasn't a flavor ban. pic.twitter.com/yUL096AyKY
— Lindsey Stroud (@lmstroud89) October 14, 2020
READ MORE: Phoenix Weighs Enforcement, State Legislation In Flavored Tobacco Ban Debate
DO MORE: If you live in Arizona, join the CASAA Arizona Facebook Group
HEADS UP // Mississippi Vape Tax
SB 2182 not only makes harm reduction products more expensive with a 15% wholesale tax, but also redefines “tobacco product” to include #vaping products that don’t contain tobacco OR nicotine! (Bill link in article, see line 167.) Join and follow CASAA for Call to Action updates!!
#NewResearch
Interesting facts: nearly 70% of Mississippi smokers & 58% of e-cigarette users earn less than $34,999/year
Excise taxes on cigarettes & vapor products are regressive & disproportionately impact low income persons. #msleg #msgov #tobaccoharmreduction pic.twitter.com/5lOmdSNdk9— Tobacco Harm Reduction 101 (@thr101org) May 27, 2020
READ MORE: Bill of the Day: Vaping could receive increased tobacco tax
DO MORE: If you live in Mississippi, join the CASAA Mississippi Facebook Group
RESEARCH // Weighing the Risks
Studying the physical impact of vaping is important, but it’s also important to weigh those risks against the impact of continuing to SMOKE and also consider the psychological BENEFITS of nicotine vs other common forms of “self-medication.” In the absence of safer nicotine, will those consumers switch to more harmful drugs, alcohol or pharmaceutical treatments that carry their own physical risks?
Unlikely. It appears to be an exercise in policy-based evidence making designed to harm people who had the audacity to quit smoking with much-less-risky vapor products.
It's what their partners at @UofR do.https://t.co/pShePsis9U
— Phil (@phil_w888) January 17, 2021
READ MORE: Do vaping and e-cigarettes hurt your health? These Tri-Cities researchers look for answers
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // Nicotine Pouches
It’s not the nicotine, it’s not even the tobacco–it’s the SMOKE. Eliminate the smoke, eliminate 99% of the health risks. There are dozens of safer tobacco and non-tobacco alternatives to consider if you cannot or will not vape.
Swedish Match North America’s mission statement, boldly posted in the tobacco company’s downtown Richmond office, says that the company is striving for “a world without cigarettes.” https://t.co/bH7z2qaCJq
— Times-Dispatch (@RTDNEWS) January 15, 2021
It’s been 24 hours since I smoke a cigarette!
Doing the nicotine pouch thing for now. Just happy not to be covered in second hand smoke.— NuclearHandouts (@NuclearHandouts) December 23, 2020
PUBLIC HEALTH // COVID-19
Outrage over “smokers” getting COVID vaccine completely ignores the fact that smoking/vaping is most prevalent in lower income workers – the HERO essential workers making, delivering & selling the food, supplies & fuel EVERYONE needs.
This is not a fair distribution of the vaccine. First, beyond addition, smokers are largely idiots. Idiots largely voted for Trump. Trumpers largely thought COVID was a hoax and if they did not they refuse to wear masks and stay at home. They shoud be at the back of the line.
— Person Woman Man Camera TV (@Lambx) January 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/teenwitchtoo/status/1351069164006477829
I’m hearing people grumbling about smokers already being eligible for the vaccine in NJ. Like, idk, maybe keeping the people who might have the most severe COVID symptoms from getting sick will help with hospital capacity and is a good thing for everyone???
— Devon (Loser Socialist) (@DAMitsDevon) January 16, 2021
READ MORE: N.J. Governor Calls Criticism That Smokers Are Being Vaccinated Over Others a ‘False Narrative’
COMMENTARY // Lindsey Stroud, Inside Sources
Researchers illogically claim two ingredients that are “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA for use in food and medicines (PG & VG) somehow “may” cause leaky gut/chronic inflammation…but apparently only if you vape them. Happily adding to the misinformation campaign, the media falsely reports the findings as though they are conclusive.
Good article. They Cleary embrace the fact that our government has too much power. Why would you make a product that does so much good so difficult or near impossible to obtain? Where is the logic?
— Spartan Vaper (@Spartan_Vapers) January 14, 2021
READ MORE: New Year, New Regulations, and Big Government’s Attempts to Block Tobacco Harm Reduction
COMMENTARY // Elizabeth Wright, Citizens Against Government Waste
“The best way to stop youth from utilizing cigarettes or any tobacco product is parental oversight and continued education on the harm they can cause. Banning flavors and taxing tobacco harm reduction products just shift sales to the black market and hurts people who want to use less harmful tobacco products to stop smoking. States should not follow Massachusetts’ unsuccessful ban on flavored tobacco products.”
https://twitter.com/GovWaste/status/1350223991974338561
READ MORE: Massachusetts Tobacco Flavor Ban Simply Shifted Markets
UPDATE // South Fulton, Georgia
City has passed the ban on smoking/vaping in public, including in private businesses that currently welcome low risk vaping, because of the alleged risks of second-hand smoke. Except vapor is NOT smoke and vaping saves lives!
The City of South Fulton now prohibits smoking and vaping in city buildings, other enclosed public facilities and certain areas of outdoor public venues. https://t.co/m1odciSgds
— Neighbor News Online (@NeighborNews) January 14, 2021
READ MORE: City of South Fulton bans smoking, vaping in public places