Public Health’s ignorance of vaping culture. A partial win for vapers in Florida. Court upholds lifetime ban. Iowa’s “Baptists and Bootleggers” coalition. Oncologist spreads EVALI disinformation. Lawsuit targets non-existent ZYN “gum.” Calls to Action and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALLS TO ACTION
Below are the new and updated Calls to Action for this past week. To view all of the current Calls to Action, scroll down to “More Calls to Action” below. To view the current hearing events schedule (Facebook,) click the box on the right.
VERMONT CALL TO ACTION
⚠️UPDATE⚠️ S. 18 has passed in the House and may soon be on the governor’s desk!
This bill bans flavored tobacco, vaping products, snus and nicotine pouches (like ZYN) regardless of FDA authorization!
TAKE ACTION: Vermont: Stop a Flavor Ban!
RHODE ISLAND UPDATE
A hearing was held on Tuesday, March 12th.
H 7225 would tax vaping products at an outrageous 80% of wholesale price and codify the Rhode Island Health Department’s flavor ban!
TAKE ACTION: Rhode Island: Stop a Vape Tax and Flavor Ban!
ILLINOIS
A hearing was held on Wednesday, March 13th.
HB 5069 is a “Big Tobacco Protection Bill” that would decimate vape shops and remove adult access to safer alternatives to smoking!
TAKE ACTION: Illinois: Stop a Vape Sales Ban!
GEORGIA
A hearing was held on Thursday, March 14th.
HB 1260, known to advocates as “PMTA Registry” legislation has passed the House and is now in the Senate.
If enacted, this law would effectively make the state of Georgia an enforcement arm of the Food and Drug Administration empowering state authorities to enforce the disastrous federal anti-vaping regulations. This would put independent vape shops out of business, hundreds of workers out of jobs, and thousands of people at risk of returning to smoking, or delaying attempts at quitting.
TAKE ACTION: Georgia: Stop a Vape Sales Ban!
KENTUCKY
HB 11, a “Big Tobacco Protection” Act, has passed the House and is now in the Senate!
Please take a minute to send an email to your lawmakers urging them to oppose HB 11 / SB 344!
TAKE ACTION: https://casaa.org/call-to-action/kentucky-stop-a-big-tobacco-protection-act/
COLORADO
⚠️UPDATE⚠️ CASAA has concluded the Call to Action for SB 22, which would have created a patchwork of vaping product bans across Colorado, as successful! The bill was defeated by a vote of 6-5 in the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
Unfortunately, lawmakers have now introduced HB 1356, an equally harmful, statewide “Big Tobacco Protection Bill.” That means the fight isn’t over in Colorado!
TAKE ACTION: Colorado: Stop a Vape Sales Ban!
MORE CALLS TO ACTION: GET INVOLVED: Calls to Action By State
LEGISLATION
Lifetime Tobacco and Nicotine Ban Upheld in Brookline, MA
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld Brookline’s nonsensical ban on the sale of tobacco products to anyone born this century.
“A local board of health telling some adults what they can or can’t do, which is legal for other adults. This is complete insanity.”
Critics are unhappy as the state Supreme Judicial Court upholds Brookline's #ban on selling #tobacco to anyone born this century. Justice Wendlandt found the #ban aligned with state law but convenience store owners are against it. #UnitedStatesofAmericahttps://t.co/cgAmnatjrt
— NSP (@NicotineSP) March 14, 2024
READ MORE: Massachusetts’ highest court allows Brookline ban on tobacco sales for adults born this century
Iowa Baptists and Bootleggers Coalition
Lawmakers in Iowa face an unusual coalition of “Baptists and Bootleggers” as tobacco harm reduction advocates, small businesses and public health orgs are unexpectedly in agreement in opposition to a PMTA directory bill aka a “Big Tobacco Protection” Act.
There’s a bill in the #ialegis that would regulate vaping products, and that bill has managed to put vape shops and public health advocates on the same lobbying team. WTF, amirite? Clearly, you need to read this report from @tjbarton83: https://t.co/pHTr7BmwB5
— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) March 11, 2024
READ MORE: Why public health groups are joining retailers to oppose Iowa vaping bill
Vape Tax Debate at State House Hearing
More than a dozen adult vapers and small business owners testified to lawmakers at a Rhode Island House hearing, urging against the 80% vape tax. Some didn’t hold back.
“Let’s be honest. This has nothing to do with children,” one vape shop owner said bluntly. “Flavored vape products helped me quit smoking as well as countless other adults.”
“Would you tax methadone at 80% to get people to stop using heroin?”https://t.co/W98hTljG9m
— Michael Redfearn (@RedfearnMike) March 13, 2024
READ MORE: Contradictions cloud vape tax debate at State House hearing
Helping People By Banning Most Helpful Products?
Ms. Brewer states “Unless we help people try more, and support them in their quitting, we’re going to have a high adult use rate. It’s not gonna miraculously go down,” yet she wants to ban the most effective quit smoking products ever known?
See the CASAA Vermont Call to Action to stop the insanity!
It would be counterfactual for Vermont to install a flavor ban aimed at adults — presumably in order to deprive minors from accessing these products — while maintaining a legal regime for cannabis, which comes with its own risks for young adultshttps://t.co/Y6BbsyFnnM
— Yaël⚜️ (@YaelOss) January 8, 2024
READ MORE: Amy Brewer advocates to reduce the harms of tobacco in Franklin County
TOBACCO CONTROL
“Experts” Show Ignorance of Vaping Culture
This article published in Pediatrics demonstrates how absurdly ignorant so-called “experts” are about vaping culture. They think terms actually created by adult vapers – such as “vape,” “e-liquid” and “e-juice” – are “tobacco-industry-popularized terminology.”
READ MORE: Suggestions to Avoid Perpetuating Tobacco Industry Reduced-Harm Marketing Tropes
Dangerous Disinformation
In this article, oncologist Kathryn DeCarli spreads dangerous disinformation by stating so-called “EVALI” cases “provide some insights into the effects of nicotine inhalation in the body.”
There is zero evidence linking “EVALI” with nicotine inhalation.
Vaping nicotine eliquid does NOT cause EVALI https://t.co/9MaVIDQkDl
— AddyTuney (@AddyTuney) March 13, 2024
READ MORE: Brown researchers discussed internal Juul document release, e-cigarette research
Expanding the Drug War To Include Tobacco Would Be a Big Mistake
An excellent, must-read commentary by journalist Jacob Sullum.
The judicially approved Brookline ban reflects a broader trend among progressives who should know better.”
“Even as moral statements, these [tobacco and vaping product bans] are flagrantly illiberal, standing for the proposition that adults cannot be trusted to decide for themselves which psychoactive substances they want to consume.”
READ MORE: Expanding the Drug War To Include Tobacco Would Be a Big Mistake
ADVOCACY
A Partial Win in Florida
Florida THR advocates and vape businesses successfully protested HB 1007 (aka a “Big Tobacco Protection” Act) last week, resulting in a bill that passed in both the Senate and House with an EXEMPTION for refillable devices and bottled e-liquids.
Half a win in Florida so far! The legislature overwhelmingly (105-5) passed a Registry bill BUT limited it to only disposables and completely exempted open systems (including flavors). It now goes to DeSantis to veto or let it become law.https://t.co/wamiqZ0HBz
— Lance Churchill (@LanceChurchill) March 8, 2024
READ MORE: Legislature approves flavor-targeting vape restrictions, but exempts e-liquids
LITIGATION
Lawsuit Criticizes Sale of Non-Existent ZYN ‘Gum’
Lawyers file a baseless, money-grabbing lawsuit against the maker of ZYN nicotine pouches — apparently without even knowing what the product is:
“Now comes along Zyn the chewing gum…targeting towards kids…,” Managing Attorney Martin Schmidt said.
Was it laziness, incompetence, or corruption that was responsible for your reporter's failure to specify how PM is allegedly targeting children?
Young adults are adults.@Kelvinhenrytv
— Phil (@phil_w888) March 13, 2024
READ MORE: San Diego firm files federal lawsuit against Zyn, makers of popular nicotine pouches
MEDIA MISINFORMATION
Blaming Vaping While Ignoring Other Known Factors
Please look up “primary spontaneous pneumothorax.” It usually occurs in tall, thin males between 10 to 30 yrs old. There’s NO EVIDENCE #vaping causes lung collapse, but he looks tall and thin, he’s male and 25 yrs old. He clearly falls under the risk factors for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
Agreed. Article is misleading. If you have a predisposition to a lung collapse, we have plenty of things we ask someone to avoid (eg scuba diving). Vaping in the general population does not lead to this.
Apologies – DMs open if needed.— Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, MHS (@panagis21) March 15, 2024
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
On this week’s show, Alex and Logan speak with special guest Bengt Wiberg, an outspoken Swedish advocate for snus, a very low risk tobacco alternative to smoking. Bengt helped found the advocacy network EU for Snus and is the inventor of “sting-free” snus pouches.
Catch the next show LIVE Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 at 4:30PM ET/3:30PM CT!
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!
VISIT: CASAA Apparel and Swag Store
CASAA MEDIA // Spotify
CASAA’s podcast is on Spotify! Please give us a follow here:
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: