Latest vaping testimonial. Researcher Dr. Cheryl Olson will be our guest on CASAA Live this Saturday. Calls to Action in Iowa, Colorado and Alaska. American Cancer Society scaremongering. How to spot vaping junk science and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // Colorado
HB 22-1064–a flavored nicotine/tobacco product ban–is scheduled for a hearing on MARCH 16th. Please take a moment to make contact with your lawmakers and urge them to oppose this bill and join CASAA to get email alerts!
TAKE ACTION: Colorado – Stop a Flavor Ban!
CALL TO ACTION // Iowa
HF 2523, formerly known as HF 98, has been introduced and assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill would impose a 22% excise tax on safer nicotine products like vapor and nicotine pouches.
TAKE ACTION: Iowa – Stop a Vapor Tax!
HEADS UP // SANTA ANA
City Council unanimously passed FIRST reading to ban sale of flavored “tobacco,” but the REAL target is made clear in celebratory tweets by anti-vaping organizations.
The next meeting for the ordinance’s passage will be March 15!
READ MORE: Santa Ana, California Moves Forward with Flavor Ban
HEADS UP // ALASKA
HB110/SB45 would impose a whopping 75% tax on nicotine vape products–including components–which would discourage adults who smoke from switching to these safer alternatives!
Watch for the CASAA Call to Action coming out very soon!
https://twitter.com/ConsumerChoiceC/status/1489208546352713732
READ MORE: Poor Tax Design in Alaska Vapor Tax Proposal
UPDATES // Monterey County
After Michelle House, the health program coordinator within the county’s health department, told them that county health officials believed that 👉FDA👈 modified risk designation was just an “attempt to undermine government regulation 🤨 by utilizing (tobacco products) as harm reduction,” the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously votes to include them in flavor & single use vapes ban.
Monterey County supervisors really don't like disposables and products that have received MRTP authorization.https://t.co/hthsaqbARY
— StefanDidak (@StefanDidak) March 3, 2022
READ MORE: Monterey Co. set to ban flavored tobacco
TOBACCO CONTROL // Smokeless Scaremongering
“By bringing our taxes on smokeless tobacco more in line with Saskatchewan, we will see more product purchased here, and a reduction in black market activity.”
Ignore ACS scaremongering. Smoke-free is MUCH safer than smoking. Lives saved is a WIN!
The relatively small risks of smoke-free tobacco products are well known, even by @FDATobacco, but it feigns ignorance as smoker deaths continue to mount. #tobacco #vaping #smoking #health https://t.co/qJ8MzLDo8R pic.twitter.com/QOLBNOzZJP
— Brad Rodu (@BradRodu) January 24, 2022
READ MORE: The Truth About Smoke-free Tobacco
READ MORE: Cancer society says Alberta chewing tobacco tax reduction ‘lose-lose’
TOBACCO CONTROL // Prohibition in Prison
Prohibition doesn’t even work in prisons, so…🤔🤔🤔
Taxpayers have spent $80,000 on nicotine patches for SA prisoners after the total smoking ban, as the Public Service Association warns of a black market in jails. #TheAdvertiser https://t.co/oTMXHvG4OW
— The Advertiser (@theTiser) February 27, 2022
TOBACCO CONTROL // Out of Control
We reported last week that a Wisconsin DA was looking into a school that heinously “strip-searched” students for vapor products. The DA initially declined to issue charges, however, he has now reopened the case after widespread outrage over the incident.
They shouldn't have been vaping, but strip searching and locking them in a bathroom is too far. Too much e-cigarette hysteria going on.https://t.co/woq3xmmLhk
— Guppy (@Guppy_Gills) March 2, 2022
READ MORE: Felony Charges for School Official Who Searched Girls for Vapes
TOBACCO CONTROL // Misleading the Public. Again.
Indiana Bill SB382 lowers tax only on closed system vapor products that have helped millions of adults quit smoking from 25% to 15%, but if you were listening to the local news and the American Cancer Society, we wouldn’t blame you if you might have ended up thinking they were slashing taxes on cigarettes.
TOBACCO CONTROL // Califf Quickly Targets Flavors
Dr. Robert Califf, the new commissioner of the FDA, announced on Twitter that the public should expect to see the specifics of a federal menthol cigarette and flavored cigar ban by spring.
READ MORE: The Federal Menthol Cigarette Ban Is Slowly Moving Forward
TOBACCO CONTROL // Synthetic Nicotine No Longer Under The Radar
Some states are introducing bills that'd establish product directories, allowing only FDA-authorized vapes to be sold. In a roundabout way, they're also banning synthetic nicotine — and tobacco giants and large vape companies are supporting the move. https://t.co/kh2AGHJCR7
— Alex Norcia (@Alex_Norcia) March 3, 2022
READ MORE: Three States Have Bills to Ban Synthetic Nicotine by Stealth
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // New Zealand Sees Historic Smoking Decline
Increase in NZ teen vaping has had the horrific effect of…record low teen smoking rates. Let’s hope the Government’s recently introduced vaping regulations to “protect teenagers” doesn’t just push them back to smoking.
Smoking rates among 13 and 14-year-olds have fallen to a record low while vaping has risen. #VapingSavesLiveshttps://t.co/rrUa81KQFU
— World Vape Day (@worldvapeday) March 1, 2022
READ MORE: Teen smoking rates fall to all time low, vaping increases
IN THE NEWS // Anti-trust Lawsuit
A judge has ruled that antitrust laws were not violated when Altria Group bought a 35 percent share in Juul Labs in 2018. The decision dismisses claims by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that Altria and Juul engaged in anticompetitive practices.
Judge Rules in Favor of Altria and Juul in Antitrust Case.
By Jim McDonald @whycherrywhy https://t.co/XknsnwhlF4— Vaping360 (@Vaping360) February 16, 2022
READ MORE: Rules in Favor of Altria and Juul in Antitrust Case
COMMENTARY // Public Perception
The industry’s best hope for correcting nicotine misperceptions likely comes from indirect public education, through health professionals and consumer advocacy organizations.”
~ @Dr. Cheryl Olson
#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
READ MORE: Watch Your Mouth
COMMENTARY // Bloomberg’s Latest Hypocrisy
But there’s a stunning disconnect regarding Mike Bloomberg’s support for harm reduction to fight the opioid epidemic and his approach to smoking cessation. He and his organizations completely reject the logic of harm reduction when it comes to tobacco.”
~Guy Bentley
READ MORE: Bloomberg’s huge harm-reduction hypocrisy: Compare his approach to narcotics and cigarettes
RESEARCH // Old Claim, New Study
Regarding the new study making the news that vaping 1) may damage nasal tissue if exhaled frequently through the nose and 2) has “higher levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals” than cigarettes is 1) old news and 2) an outright lie. This article from way back in 2016 explains it without the fearmongering:
READ MORE: Do you vape? Don’t blow it through your nose
RESEARCH // What Teens Are Really Vaping
Study finds majority of teens and young adults 15-24 who vape are vaping THC, not nicotine. Why all the confusion about what teens vape? Well, the fact that even this article and study continue to call THC vapes “e-cigarettes” might be their first clue.
https://twitter.com/NussbaumDr/status/1499280251222126602
RESEARCH // How to Spot Vape Junk Science
Some weasel words indicating you may be reading vape junk science (all found in this study):
“Survey”
“Self-reported”
“Cross-sectional”
“Lack of medical confirmation”
“Authors do not have information on”
“Misinformation bias”
“Causal relationship cannot be inferred”
“Recall bias”
“May”
New e-cigarette harm alleged by Johns Hopkins 'Bloomberg' School of Public Health:
"Our study demonstrated a clear association of prediabetes risk with the use of e-cigarettes,"
Predictably, it never compares this e-cig risk to the same risk for smokers.https://t.co/PRw0enU0lH— Freedom of Choice (@LanceChurchill) March 3, 2022
Also, see Table 2 below:
Never Vaper 10.9%
Never Smoker 9.3%
Current Vaper 9.0%
Sole Vaper (never smoked) 5.9%
Current & sole vapers had lower prevalence for prediabetes until the researchers created their “fully adjusted model” and suddenly Sole Vapers had highest prevalence?🤔
READ MORE: Evidence links e-cigarette use with increased odds of prediabetes
TESTIMONIAL
Anecdote #13,415
Our latest testimonial is from James, a 59-year-old from Australia who quit after smoking for over 40 YEARS “literally overnight” by switching to vaping!
What’s YOUR real story? Submit your testimonial today!
READ MORE: CASAA Testimonials
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
On this week’s CASAA Live, our special guest is Dr. Cheryl Olson. You may recognize her name from the article is quoted above, “Watch Your Mouth.” Dr. Olson is a public health researcher who specializes in behavioral health issues and consults on tobacco product behaviors.
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: