FDA’s historic first authorization of a vaping device and a rejection reversal for another company’s application. Exposing bad vaping research. Heads up Sacramento. Calls to Action and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // National Nicotine Tax
A proposed federal tax on far safer alternatives to smoking will disproportionately impact the very communities who need more support not more stigma and financial burden. Harm Reduction should not be discouraged! Take Action!
TAKE ACTION: Stop an Excessive Federal Tax on Safer Nicotine Products
CALL TO ACTION // Washington County, Oregon Flavor Ban
What started as limiting sales of flavored products to adult-only locations is now a full-blown FLAVOR BAN and banning discounts/coupons. The next opportunity for a public hearing is Oct. 19th at 10:00 AM!
I know tons of adults who LIKE the flavors. This is just another bs example of people using "children" as a weapon to further limit freedom of choice. Kids will still use this stuff and now they will go to the black market which will create more problems. Nice job.
— harry p (@harryp20311546) January 3, 2020
TAKE ACTION: Washington County, OR – Fight a Flavor Ban!
HEADS UP! // Sacramento County Flavor Ban
Lawmakers claim they want to end sale of “candy” flavored tobacco and nicotine products, but the fact that they include “menthol” in this category suggests that they really mean “everything but tobacco flavor.”
Sacramento County could ban flavored tobacco products — including e-cigarette juice and menthol cigarettes — by the end of this year. The city of Sacramento implemented a similar ban last year.https://t.co/uw8Km62bLE
— CapRadio News (@CapRadioNews) October 15, 2021
READ MORE: Why Sacramento County leaders want candy-flavored tobacco to go up in smoke
IN THE NEWS // FDA Issues First PMTA Decision
FDA issued “marketing granted” orders to RJ Reynolds for its Vuse Solo with tobacco-flavored pods. The tobacco giant’s brands include Newport and Camel cigarettes, and the Eclipse “heat-not-burn” device, which was authorized by FDA in 2018.
The FDA also stated that it had “also issued 10 Marketing Denial Orders (MDOs) for flavored ENDS products submitted under the Vuse Solo brand by RJR. These products subject to an MDO for a premarket application may not be introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce.”
Meaning, even a huge tobacco company couldn’t get any non-tobacco flavors authorized. Their menthol products are still under review.
The Vuse e-cig FDA authorized isn't popular with kids, and in randomized control trials e-cigs consistently outperform nicotine replacement therapy for effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Oregon's adult smokers deserve access to safer alternatives. https://t.co/49d5lvcm5L https://t.co/QxoTQHFVPd
— Portland Neoliberals🌐 (@NeoliberalPDX) October 14, 2021
READ MORE: FDA Permits Marketing of E-Cigarette Products, Marking First Authorization of Its Kind by the Agency
IN THE NEWS // FDA Reverses Turning Point Brands Rejection
FDA claims to have accidentally overlooked the “randomized controlled trials comparing tobacco-flavored ENDS to flavored ENDS as well as several cross-sectional surveys” submitted with Turning Point’s PMTAs; reverses marketing denial order.
Breaking: Turning Point, which recently petitioned a court to review FDA's denial of many of its vapor products, is set to withdraw its appeal. The agency wrote to the company yesterday saying its products are *back under review.* https://t.co/YOsXIvpqJA
— Alex Norcia (@Alex_Norcia) October 8, 2021
READ MORE: FDA Backs Down, Rescinds Turning Point Brands’ MDOs
RESEARCH // Exposing Anti-Vaping Bias
Mishandling & misunderstanding of the products leads to misinforming the public! Yet again, it looks like researchers overheated devices (3 second “puffs” every 10 seconds for a total of 300 puffs!) that created “trace” amounts of numerous known and unknown chemicals. Of course, they then express concern over the presence of chemicals, ignoring the well-established fact that “the dose makes the poison.”
Furthermore, it seems their mistaken belief that “tobacco” flavor is a natural extract leaves them confused by traces of caffeine. They say it would make sense for coffee and chocolate flavors to contain trace amounts, but not tobacco flavor. Clearly, they don’t understand that “tobacco” flavors in e-liquid are actually a mix of natural and artificial food flavorings, including chocolate and coffee flavors.
The study authors then take this opportunity to imply that manufacturers are inexplicably spending money to add trace amounts of caffeine to e-liquid (called an “added jolt” by one study author) that wouldn’t even be felt by consumers and without advertising that added benefit to their customers.
#FactCheck: Researchers at JHU's BLOOMBERG School of Public Health found barely measurable levels of 2,000 substances in e-cigarette vapor, 6 of which MAY be "potentially harmful."
Tobacco SMOKE has 7,000 harmful chemicals, 70 carcinogens, TAR and carbon monoxide. So? pic.twitter.com/QoRV6hgd2b
— Charles A. Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) October 15, 2021
READ MORE: Nearly 2,000 unknown chemicals found in vape liquids and e-cig aerosols
RESEARCH // Exposing More Anti-Vaping Bias
This anti-vaping study pours e-liquid on gut cells, followed up by exposing mice to vapor and finds adverse effects. The authors conclude from their results that vaping causes “leaky gut” and “inflammation.” Predictably, they fail to note that–with millions of people vaping around the world for over a decade–there’s no real world evidence this inflammation or subsequent health effects is actually happening in humans.
Furthermore, the study seems to have found that the effect is only found in nicotine-free e-liquid, leading some critics to wonder if that implies that nicotine somehow counters the inflammation and leaky gut effects!
Vaping hit the mainstream market in 2004.
Millions have used them for well over a decade.
Where are all of the people suffering from inflammation?
Surely the medical wards are flooded with patients…. or not— Sanctuary Denied (@Lloyd45190819) January 16, 2021
READ MORE: Gut Inflammation Triggered by E-Cigarettes
COMMENTARY // Illiberalism of Prohibitionism
If you haven’t read Jacob Grier‘s article yet, read it now. (We also recommend reading his book.)
At the same time, the lethal conventional cigarettes that take the lives of more than 400,000 Americans every year remain almost entirely unchanged after more than a decade of FDA regulation and they are legally available in any convenience store. Many people who currently vape and are losing access to the products they prefer will likely end up switching to cigarettes….
There is a basic lack of consideration for the smokers and vapers most affected by the FDA’s bans that makes them so much easier to enact.”
~ Jacob Grier
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.