CDC finally releases 2021 youth survey vaping and smoking data. Congress gives FDA instant power to regulate/ban synthetic nicotine vapes. Call to Action for Alaska. Heads up Illinois. Consequences of Finland’s snus ban and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // ALASKA!
HB 110 would enact a 75% wholesale tax on e-liquids, vaping devices, and components. (HB 110 is the House version of SB 45)
This bill had a hearing on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Click the link for more info!
TAKE ACTION: Alaska – Stop a Vapor Tax
HEADS UP //Illinois Flavor Ban
Say you don’t know anything about vaping without saying you don’t know anything about vaping: “In addition, the [vape flavor ban] bill would also ban any tobacco product that also contains THC…”
(This is what happens when THC vapes are called “e-cigarettes” by Public Health.)
A consumer advocacy group says a measure that would ban flavored tobacco products in Illinois, including vapes, could do more harm than good. https://t.co/nW3KzAj9m2
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) March 7, 2022
READ MORE: Illinois Seeks to Ban Flavored Tobacco Products
UPDATE // Synthetic Nicotine Bill
Anti-vaping lawmakers slipped language into the 2022 Omnibus Budget Bill that will be a near-immediate ban on the thousands of low risk e-liquids and smoke-free products that contain synthetic nicotine. The Senate passed the bill late on March 10th, after it had already passed in the House, and it now goes to the White House for President Biden’s signature.
Details of the de facto federal ban on synthetic nicotine products, courtesy of @ECIGattorney.
States are not required to do the federal government's job for them by passing their own bans, particularly on nicotine-free products and devices not sold for nicotine use. pic.twitter.com/GlEgsvop5H
— Gregory Conley (@GregTHR) March 11, 2022
What Does the Synthetic Nicotine Law Mean for Vapers?
By Jim McDonald @whycherrywhy https://t.co/Bz5qHs732w— Vaping360 (@Vaping360) March 11, 2022
READ MORE: What Does the Synthetic Nicotine Law Mean for Vapers?
TOBACCO CONTROL // Harmful Health Insurance
Unsurprisingly, high health insurance surcharges for tobacco use (which is really a surcharge for any type of nicotine use, because they test for cotinine, a nicotine byproduct) is causing health disparities due to lower enrollment.
The #ACA allows insurers to charge tobacco users who have nongroup coverage up to 50% more than nonusers of tobacco. In a new paper, @DorilasErnest of @GeorgiaStateU @AYSPS @GSU_Research + coauthors find that reducing tobacco surcharges may increase total Marketplace enrollment.
— Health Affairs (@Health_Affairs) March 7, 2022
READ MORE: Tobacco Surcharges Associated With Reduced ACA Marketplace Enrollment
TOBACCO CONTROL // Nonsensical Bans
How It Started:
Despite 30+ years of research showing no increased risk of disease or death from using snus, the smoke-free tobacco product is banned in the EU, including Finland. Deadly cigarettes remain legal.
How It’s Going:
“Finnish customs seized a record quantity of snus…”
FINLAND
Snus seized by customs:
2011: more than 30 kilos
2021: more than 9,000 kilosProhibition working great again!
Article translated to English here:https://t.co/boG9rkK2Se pic.twitter.com/x5MDXcJz0I
— Jukka Kelovuori (@jkelovuori) March 7, 2022
READ MORE: Finnish customs seized a record quantity of snus and narcotic medicines
TOBACCO CONTROL // Benefits Outweigh the Risks
At what point will the “public health concern” about adults dying from smoking exceed that of youth vaping?
New 2021 data shows total youth “current” vaping about the same at just 7.6%, frequent/daily use at just 2.95% and current smoking is now at another record low of 1.5%.
TOBACCO CONTROL // Ignoring the Data
Anti-vaping Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says 2.55 million youth using “tobacco” (mostly low risk vaping at 7.6%, cigarette smoking down to just 1.5%) “remains a serious public health problem,” but is completely ignoring that 2.55 million is actually a record low number (as is the 1.5% smoking rate) just to keep pushing their agenda of flavor bans.
2020: 4.4 million
2019: 6.2 million
2018: 4.8 million
2017: 3.6 million
2016: 3.9 million
2015: 4.7 million
2014: 4.6 million
COMMENTARY // Vape Taxes
The goal of discouraging e-cigarette use through broad, indiscriminate policies is fundamentally at odds with the best scientific evidence on harm reduction and public health….
When researchers examined the effects of Massachusetts’ flavor ban and tax, they found that messaging by health authorities questioning the safety of e-cigarettes led to an increase in combustible cigarette use in the Boston area….”
~ Steve PociaskREAD MORE: Why Taxing E-Cigarettes Is Backfiring for States — and Consumers
ADVOCACY // Switching IS Quitting
March 9th is #NoSmokingDay.
Vaping is not smoking.
Switching IS quitting.
Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
For more information: casaa.org
RESEARCH // Gateway Effect
“If there really was a gateway effect, then, as vaping rates changed, those for smoking also should have a related pattern. In fact, while vaping in this age group jumped to about 5% in 2013…rates of regular smoking have fallen from about 30% in 2013 to 25% in 2018.”
Maybe if there wasn’t so much misinformation, people would stick with vaping exclusively. They’re confused by policies that treat vaping the same as smoking.
Vaping probably isn’t a gateway to smoking | New Scientist https://t.co/qT5mkaoP2f
— Louise (@grannylouisa) March 10, 2022
READ MORE: Vaping Probably Isn’t a Gateway to Smoking
TESTIMONIAL
Anecdote #13,422
Our latest testimonial is from Jeff, a father in California who quit after smoking for 20 years by switching to vaping. He hasn’t smoked in over 8 years!
What’s YOUR real story? Submit your testimonial today!
READ MORE: CASAA Testimonials
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
If you missed the CASAA Live show this past weekend, 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: