Author: Bill Tarling

“ACA allows individual and small group health insurers to adjust premiums based on just four factors—geographic location, age, family size, and tobacco use. Tobacco users can be charged up to 50% more than people who don’t use tobacco. Although the text of the ACA includes a provision to allow higher premiums for tobacco users, it does not clarify exactly what constitutes tobacco use. But a subsequent rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defines tobacco use as the use of any tobacco product within the past six months with a frequency of at least four times per week. Since any tobacco product is counted, this includes e-cigarettes and vaping.”

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Health Insurance Surcharges for Tobacco Users: State and Federal Rules

“Three discount cigarette makers sued Colorado in U.S. District Court this week, claiming a ballot measure raising the state’s tobacco taxes gives their larger competitors an unfair advantage by setting a minimum price on all brands, and that the provision was created in a “backroom deal” with the country’s largest cigarette maker. The ballot measure, known as Proposition EE, would increase taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products and add a new tax on vaping supplies, which are not subject to tobacco taxes under current state law. The lawsuit was filed almost a week after Colorado ballots were mailed on Oct. 9 and after more than 300,000 residents have cast their votes.”

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Discount cigarette companies sue Colorado over tobacco tax ballot measure, allege “backroom deal” with Philip Morris

“The Thurston County Board of Health passed new rules around smoking and vaping in public this week that will apply to all jurisdictions within the county. Starting Jan. 1, 2021, both vaping and smoking will be banned in indoor public places (except for tastings in licensed retailers), places of employment, and some outdoor public places where young people gather, such as playgrounds and child care centers. A rule that bans smoking within 25 feet of doors and other air intakes for indoor spaces will be applied to vaping. Signage will also be required in public spaces and places of employment. Enforcement starts July 1, 2021.”

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Board of Health adopts new rules for smoking and vaping in Thurston County

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Lehigh Valley in Allentown, Pennsylvania seized more than 86,000 unapproved flavored vaping products, worth an estimated $1.72 million on Wednesday. The shipment arrived from China on Sept. 18 manifested as “LED lights” and was destined to an address in Northampton County. The FDA examined the e-cigarettes and determined on Oct. 6 that the shipment violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as misbranded consumer goods being imported by an unauthorized agent. The e-cigarettes will be destroyed.”

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$1.7M in illegal e-cigarettes seized in Allentown

“Health officials are worried that smokers looking to stop might not ‘vape’ which has proven a highly effective quitting tool. Across Great Britain the figure dropped from 3.6 million to 3.2 million. At the same time as this report a review by the Cochrane Collaboration, a respected international charitable research body, found that using an e-cigarette was 70% more effective at helping smokers quit than the most commonly used medication at present, nicotine replacement therapy. Just 39% of smokers in Great Britain correctly believe vaping is less harmful than smoking in 2020. Dr Ruth Sharrock, Respiratory Consultant, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead said “I urge them to try to switch and reassure them that the risks are vastly reduced compared to the fact that half of cigarette smokers die from a smoking related disease.””

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False e-cigarette health fears linked to big drop in North East users

“Shenzhen sits on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern Guangdong province. For the best part of a decade it has grown into the powerhouse of the vape manufacturing world – but people using the devices it makes doesn’t sit comfortably with the Chinese Communist Party. Claiming that measures are part of its quest to become a “smoke-free city”, law makers have banned vaping and the sale of products near schools. Some will highlight that the moves might not necessarily be tied to evidence or the desire to promote good health. China runs its own tobacco company as a state monopoly, producing more than 1.7 trillion cigarettes each year for its 350 million smokers which raises well over £1.5 billion in profit. In 2003, this income accounted for almost 10% of China’s total revenue.”

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Shenzhen Shutdown

“The House leader in the Philippines House of Representatives has pushed for an inquiry into funds accepted by the nation’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). This agency is responsible for the approaches to vaping and other non-tobacco alternative nicotine products. The FDA acknowledged that it has accepted donations from two organisations, The Union and Bloomberg Initiative. Effectively, this means all of the funding comes from a single source – billionaire Michael Bloomberg. The Union co-manages the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program in partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.”

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Bloomberg’s War Chest Probed

“Electronic cigarettes could increase the number of people who stop smoking compared to nicotine replacement therapy—such as chewing gum and patches—according to research involving the University of East Anglia. A new Cochrane review published today also shows that e-cigs help people stop more than just quitting smoking without any treatment. This updated review now includes 50 studies, an increase of 35 studies since it was last published in 2016. Twenty-four of these are uncontrolled studies, but their results support the data from the randomized controlled trials.”

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E-cigs better than gum or patches to help people quit smoking

“Newly updated Cochrane evidence published today in the Cochrane Library finds that electronic cigarettes containing nicotine could increase the number of people who stop smoking compared to nicotine replacement therapy. Unlike chewing gum and patches, they mimic the experience of cigarette smoking as they are hand-held and generate a smoke-like vapour. This helps to recreate sensations similar to smoking without exposing users or other people to smoke from conventional cigarettes, and can be used to provide smokers with nicotine.”

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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH: Electronic cigarettes can help people quit smoking

“Vapes containing nicotine are more effective in helping people quit smoking than patches or gum, and safer than cigarettes, although more evidence is needed on their potential long-term impacts. “There is now evidence that electronic cigarettes with nicotine are likely to increase the chances of quitting successfully compared to nicotine gum or patches,” said Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, an expert at the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group who co-led the review. John Britton, a respiratory medicine professor at Nottingham University, said the review was “comprehensive” and gave “definitive confirmation that electronic cigarettes offer smokers an effective means of quitting”.”

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Vapes more effective to quit smoking than gum or patch, review finds

“The Irish Heart Foundation welcomed the 50c budget increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes but warned more must be done to put tobacco and e-cigarettes out of the purchasing reach of young people. The charity had called for the phased introduction of a €20 charge for a packet of cigarettes by 2025 and a new excise tax of 6c per millilitre of e-cigarette liquid“

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Welcome for 50c rise in price of packet of cigarettes

“Residents voiced support Tuesday, Oct. 13 for the proposed smoking ban in all Grand Rapids public parks. Four people in all called into the Grand Rapids City Commission’s virtual meeting, during a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendment to ban smoking and vaping in all city parks and playgrounds. All four expressed their support.”

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Residents voice support for proposed smoking ban in Grand Rapids parks