Will vaping ever be considered ‘safe enough?’ CEO Alex Clark on panel in DC. Researchers again ignore common liability. The Swedish success. Good-bye to Matt Myers. 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 // Louisiana Flavor Ban!
HB 179 was passed by Louisiana House and sent to the Senate for further consideration. It was read for the first time on May 18th and placed on the Calendar for a second reading!!
TAKE ACTION: Louisiana – Stop a Flavor Ban
CALL TO ACTION // Maine Flavor Ban!
LD 1215 would put many adult lives back at risk by banning tobacco and nicotine products in any flavor (even “cooling”) other than “tobacco.”
A second hearing was held on May 18th!
READ MORE: Maine – Stop a Flavor Ban!
CALL TO ACTION // ALABAMA SALES BAN!
HB 319/SB 271 would expand the definition of “electronic nicotine delivery system” to include ZERO NICOTINE e-liquids. This is effectively a de facto ban because FDA doesn’t regulate zero nicotine e-liquids!
TAKE ACTION: Alabama – Stop a Sales Ban!
CALL TO ACTION // VERMONT FLAVOR BAN!
S.18 would ban the sale of any flavored nicotine product (non-pharma) regardless of FDA authorization or having received a modified risk order. This has passed the Senate and is now in the House!
TAKE ACTION: Vermont – Stop a Flavor Ban!
Commentary // Will Vaping Ever Be Considered ‘Safe Enough?’
Great points in this article by Chelsea Boyd over at R Street:
For any problem, eventually a tipping point is reached where the preponderance of the evidence points to a conclusion.”
“The questions then become, what evidence is sufficient to convince health organizations of e-cigarettes’ harm reduction potential, how does science produce evidence that confirms or rejects this potential, and how long are we willing to operate under the status quo while waiting for conclusive evidence?”
“About 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses. And although the majority of people who smoke want to quit, fewer than one in 10 succeed each year. Precaution with new tobacco products is wise; however, existing cessation methods are failing most people trying to quit.”
“We are facing the inevitable crossroads of perfect versus good enough—if appropriately regulated e-cigarettes can help some people now, isn’t that better than helping nobody while waiting indefinitely for research that proves e-cigarettes present little to no health risks, presuming that is the desired finding?”
“The absolute risk of combustible cigarettes, and thus their harm to public health, is so high that exercising extreme caution with e-cigarettes may be inadvertently harming people who smoke. To benefit public health, perhaps it is time for organizations to begin specifying what evidence they need to exonerate e-cigarettes. It would be a sad day for science if the answer is that no evidence is convincing enough.”
~ Chelsea Boyd
READ MORE: How Much Evidence Is Enough to Exonerate E-Cigarettes?
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA LIVE
Don’t miss the show this Saturday at 4:30 PM EDT, when we’ll have guest Professor Gerry Stimson to discuss his great article recently published in Filter Magazine. We’ll hear about his involvement with the Global Forum on Nicotine, the importance of consumer inclusion in the discussions, and find out why he’s still optimistic about Tobacco Harm Reduction!
READ MORE: Why I’m Still Fiercely Optimistic About Tobacco Harm Reduction
CASAA IN ACTION // CEO Alex Clark On the Road
CEO Alex Clark on the panel at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance People and Policies Shaping a Smoke Free Future event in Washington DC.
Next up is Alex Clark of @CASAAmedia , sharing his story of being skeptical of vaping to how vaping progressively ended his addiction to cigarettes… “To be able to quit instantly after 21 years of smoking and years of trying nicotine gum… I knew I had to get involved.” pic.twitter.com/o3Hgp1ACm8
— Taxpayers Protection Alliance (@Protectaxpayers) May 17, 2023
RESEARCH // Ignoring Common Liability – Again.
This study essentially found that youth who use a drug (caffeine) are likely to use another drug (nicotine). Is anyone really surprised (besides these researchers)? It’s called “common liability.”
The good news (and this was ignored by the researchers) is most of the youth surveyed were choosing to use very low risk sources of nicotine rather than harmful smoking.
Yes. This is called “common liability.” Kids who use one illegal adult product are likely to use others as well.
If you were ever a teen, this might make sense to you. Claiming vaping is a gateway to… whatever, is a propaganda tactic.#WakeUp
— Charles A. Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) May 19, 2023
READ MORE: Study finds that caffeine consumption was associated with nicotine use onset among early adolescents
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // The Swedish Success
Sweden is on course to become one of the world’s first “smoke-free” countries, defined as less than 5% of the adult population smoking.
Dr Delon Human, co-author of a report ‘The Swedish Experience: A Roadmap to a Smoke-Free Society’ report, pointed to Sweden’s “groundbreaking strategy” to tackle smoking, noting how people who smoke are helped to switch to “less harmful” alternatives, such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes.
“This comes at a time when other countries are banning the use of reduced-risk products,” he said.
"There are no risk-free tobacco products, but e-cigarettes, for example, are 95% less harmful than cigarettes," Dr Human told Euronews. "It is far better for a smoker to switch from traditional cigarettes to alternative products than to continue smoking."https://t.co/DdSHlWRQrU
— eJuiceMonkeys (@eJuiceMonkeys) May 18, 2023
READ MORE: Smoke free Sweden: Why are Swedes stubbing out their cigarettes?
TOBACCO CONTROL // Public Health Lies By Omission
“We need to make sure that young people understand that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to traditional smoking and that they can have serious health consequences.”
Meanwhile, by not admitting that nicotine vaping is STILL FAR SAFER than smoking, you will cause more young people to just keep smoking, resulting in more smoking-related deaths in 30+ years. Bravo.
READ MORE: OPINION | MARIAN EVANS: Vaping dangers clear
TOBACCO CONTROL // Tobacco Harm Reduction Denier Matt Myers Retires
“During Myers’ reign, TFK has become a powerful force behind legislation blocking access to non-combustible nicotine products. He has been instrumental in creating a moral panic over teenage Juul use, and has largely coordinated the spread of misinformation that prevents many people who will die from smoking from switching to e-cigarettes.”
What a deadly legacy to leave! No doubt, someone just as awful will fill his position
— Samantha Barratt (@sam_barratt) May 18, 2023
READ MORE: Tobacco-Free Kids Leader Matthew Myers Will Retire
CASAA TESTIMONIAL PROJECT
Anecdote #13,521:
After smoking for 48 years, Dee Dee was finally able to quit with a vanilla flavored vape. If she hadn’t had the opportunity to try MANY flavors to find “the ONE” that worked for her, she would still be smoking!
Share YOUR story at the link below!
Submit Your Testimonial: CASAA Testimonial Project
CASAA MEDIA // Spotify
CASAA’s podcast is on Spotify! Please give us a follow here:
CASAA IN ACTION // Twitter Spaces
The week we recap the Reagan-Udall sessions with Amanda Wheeler, Tim Andrews and CASAA CEO Alex Clark, who all presented to the panel about FDA’s issues regulating reduced-harm products. What grade would you give FDA? Also available on CASAA’s Spotify channel (above.)
— CASAA (@CASAAmedia) October 26, 2022
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
CASAA Live is on alternating Saturdays at 4:30 PM ET/3:30 PM CT/2:30 PM MT/1:30 PM PT on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter!
If you missed the last CASAA Live episode you can catch up NOW before the next show!
On this last episode, join CASAA CEO Alex Clark and CASAA vice president Logan Evans as we discuss rethinking the future of nicotine, vaping and tobacco harm reduction — with special guest, Clive Bates!
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 // 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: