Arbitrary UK vaping regulations have predictable consequences. Popular vape advocate forced to close her store. Heads up Florida and Minnesota. Updates for Fresno, CA and Washington County, OR. New research supports benefits of smoke-free alternatives and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION UPDATE // Portland, Maine Flavor Ban
A 3-0 vote by the committee has moved the proposal to consideration by the full council. The council likely will vote on it late next month or early next year. If it passes, it probably would go into effect in June. See link for more info and TAKE ACTION!
TAKE ACTION: Portland, Maine – Stop a Flavor Ban!
CALL TO ACTION UPDATE // Tempe, Arizona Flavor Ban
Tempe City Council is moving forward with a ban on flavored tobacco/nicotine products (including synthetic). Staff are being directed to research the proposal further, so it will likely come back up in early 2022. Stay alert!
TAKE ACTION: Tempe, AZ – Stop a Flavor Ban!
HEADS UP! // Minnesota
Arguing for a statewide vaping flavor ban, president of the Association for Nonsmokers-MN cluelessly claims that “You don’t find some 50-year-old guy going out and buying ‘Unicorn Juice’ to vape. That’s not the target audience.”
If you pass a Flavor Ban in the State of Minnesota @GovTimWalz than who will tell these people who All Quit Smoking with Flavors. Please enforce the T21 laws. If there are teens vaping they are Breaking The Law! The Adults are Law abiding citizens who deserve a 95% Healthier Life pic.twitter.com/oYoq8Psm1V
— Southernvaper (@Southernvaper1) January 5, 2022
READ MORE: New Local Ordinances, Push for Statewide Tobacco Restrictions in MN
HEADS UP! // Florida
SB224/HB105–bills reportedly being passed to prevent littering of cigarette butts–inexplicably does NOT prevent “the adoption of municipal or county ordinances that impose more restrictive regulation” on smoke- and butt-free vaping.
No butts needed: Florida again considers banning smoking at public beaches, in parks https://t.co/C2KjjVKAoN
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) January 7, 2022
READ MORE: Bill to allow smoking ban at Florida beaches, parks gains support
REGULATION // Setting Arbitrary Limits
A law prohibiting higher nicotine levels and tank/pod capacity–despite consumer demand–has predictably resulted in rampant noncompliance. A consequence that other countries should seriously consider before following suit.
UK need to lift outdated nicotine cap. pic.twitter.com/Xx8Q6w1Gfr
— Hamish Bowly (@hbowly) December 8, 2021
READ MORE: Investigation reveals scale of illegal vaping problem in Liverpool
REGULATION // Dire Consequences: A Vape Shop Owner’s Heartbreaking Story
It’s never been about an income. It’s always been about helping people….We always catered to the low-income, the disabled and the elderly…”
~ Skip Murray, Owner and Advocate
READ MORE: Popular Advocate Forced to Close Her Small-Town Vape Shop
UPDATE // Fresno, CA
“All of our folks who live in multi-family housing have the right to a healthy lifestyle,” said council vice president, Nelson Esparza.
Clearly that “right” doesn’t include folks who have quit smoking with low risk vapor products.
Opinion: this ordinance will be deemed unconstitutional every person has a right to privacy under the constitution of the Bill of Rights. People don't like politicians telling people what to do .
No Smoking, Toking, or Vaping in Fresno Apartments? https://t.co/kRbfI1pTBY— (Ruben Navarro Wahl} RN77 GLOBAL NEWS BULLETIN (@NewsRn77) September 30, 2021
READ MORE: Smoking is now illegal in Fresno apartments under new law
UPDATE // Washington County, Oregon
A flavor ban took effect Jan. 1st, putting local shops out of business. Some are fighting back with a petition to put the ban to voters, but they need more signatures.
Banning things always works! See how well the war or drugs is going! Prohibition was a smashing success too.
— Beep Boop (@BeepBoo83732299) November 3, 2021
READ MORE: Washington County’s flavored tobacco ban will be enforced starting Jan. 1
RESEARCH // Smoke-free Tobacco
Study finds that “despite having higher levels of nicotine,” exclusive smoke-free tobacco users had “significantly lower concentrations of inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers…similar to those of ‘never’ smokers.”
Past studies have found that smoking actually carries a higher risk of head and neck (oral) cancers than smoke-free tobacco. With this new study, the claim that smoke-free tobacco is overall a reduced risk alternative to smoking has even stronger support.
Ditching cigarettes for smokeless tobacco can help cut cardiovascular risks, study finds | UCLA. Congrats to Dr. Rezk Hanna for publishing these important research findings.@UCLANursing. @UCLAnewsroom https://t.co/mxuBeWtiMj
— Holli DeVon (@HolliDeVon) January 7, 2022
READ MORE: Ditching cigarettes for smokeless tobacco can help cut cardiovascular risks, study finds
RESEARCH // Menthol Ban
Study co-author proclaims the menthol flavor ban “effectively reduces both menthol and overall cigarette sales,” but his study had a huge limitation: “cross-border or online cigarette sales in Massachusetts were not accounted for.” Additionally, non-flavored cigarette sales increased disproportionately compared to the other states after the ban.
The comprehensive flavor ban in Massachusetts was associated with decreases in state-level menthol and all cigarette sales. However, non-flavored cigarette sales in Massachusetts compared to the comparison states increased disproportionately after the ban. https://t.co/Cx9WbuJiZY
— JAMA Internal Medicine (@JAMAInternalMed) January 5, 2022
That’s pretty cool, no pun intended. Many Massachusetts smokers buy in New Hampshire (much cheaper), interested to see if there was a significant increase in menthol purchases in NH. Probably not significant, the drive is too far for most.
— J. Bob O’Malley (@jimomal77) January 5, 2022
READ MORE: Massachusetts menthol ban brings drop in cigarette sales, study finds
IN THE NEWS // China Goes After Vapor Products
Chinese vapers and industry face a possible flavor ban, looming taxes and PR campaigns claiming second-hand vapor “is as harmful as second-hand smoke.”
China's Tobacco Monopoly Law: Industry reacts to inclusion of e-cigarettes in amendment
"In its current form the legislation will have a massive influence on the industry both domestically and internationally, but not all in a good way." – John Dunnehttps://t.co/IcKZcVrYGf
— UKVIA (@Vaping_Industry) December 20, 2021
READ MORE: China Mulls a Ban on Flavored Vape Juice With New Draft Bill
IN THE NEWS // FDA
“With thin evidence of Califf’s intentions for an agency that has never made tobacco control a massive priority, industry insiders, experts and harm reductionists are left with the difficult task of guessing what he might do.”
While evidence of Dr. Robert Califf's intentions is thin, past indications leave most in the tobacco harm reduction field assuming that their uphill battle will only get steeper, reports @Alex_Norcia: https://t.co/Kv94Wd4Ga8
— Filter | harm reduction journalism (@Filtermag_org) January 4, 2022
READ MORE: Will Biden’s FDA Commissioner Pick Continue the War on Vaping?
HARM REDUCTION // Changing Expectations
This person’s story demonstrates that millions of people who still smoke deserve to know the truth: that being “stuck on [vaping] as a harm-reduction method, not a step towards kicking the habit” is NOT a failing.
Helpful insights here from a person who smokes tobacco yet knows it’s harmful. The readers responses are also worth a look. “Confessions of a die-hard smoker” https://t.co/xt8zJ977Qb
— Chris Bullen (@DrChrisBullen) January 1, 2022
READ MORE: Can’t quit, won’t quit: confessions of a die-hard smoker.
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
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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.