Author: Bill Tarling

“The Montana health department decided Friday to withdraw a proposed rule that would ban flavored vaping products in the state. The decision came after 13 state senators and seven representatives, all Republicans, signed letters last month opposing the rule and stating that the health department does not have the authority to implement such a ban. Montana law dictates that a poll of the entire Legislature is required when 20 or more legislators object to a proposed administrative rule.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Montana officials drop proposed flavored vaping product ban

“Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against an Orange County-based company that marketed vapor products containing nicotine in a way that appealed to youth, then sold the products without verifying the buyers’ ages. The company, E-Juice Vapors, failed to comply with numerous age verification requirements intended to prevent youth from purchasing vapor products online. Moreover, E-Juice Vapors never received a license from the state to deliver vapor products into Washington as required by Washington law. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, seeks to block E-Juice Vapors’ future unlawful sales and obtain financial penalties to hold the company accountable for its unlawful conduct. E-Juice Vapors refused to comply with the Attorney General’s investigation. Consequently, the number of total online sales into Washington remains unknown.”

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AG FERGUSON SUES CALIFORNIA INTERNET VAPING RETAILER FOR ILLEGAL SALES

“The company, Altria, was part of the negotiations that led to 11th-hour legislation — House Bill 1427 — that placed the question on the 2020 ballot. If passed, it will raise taxes on nicotine products across the board over the next several years. Nicotine products, including vaping devices and fuel, would be taxed at 30% of their manufacturer’s list price starting next year if voters sign off on the ballot question. By July 2024, that would rise to 56% of the list price and to 62% in July 2027. House Bill 1427 easily won approval. But it passed under unusual circumstances: The measure was introduced in the final hours of the 2020 legislative session and so hastily brought that lawmakers didn’t have a copy of the measure before its first committee hearing began. The bill was introduced on the day before the legislature was set to adjourn ahead of schedule because of the pandemic. The bill was negotiated by lawmakers, Polis’ office, health advocates, Altria and other tobacco interests.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Colorado’s proposed tobacco tax hike — and it could help them dominate the cigarette market

“The town of Bethlehem is planning to charge retailers $270 for a tobacco sales license as a way to crack down on underage smoking and vaping. The town board will vote on the fee Wednesday night. The fee, which includes a $130 application charge and a $140 approval charge, was calculated estimating it would take six hours of work by town employees to process the license and for oversight and enforcement. Licenses must be renewed annually.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Bethlehem tobacco sales license to cost $270

“In a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration, lawmakers are urging the agency to temporarily clear the market of all e-cigarettes for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. The letter, sent to FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn on Tuesday, makes this call based on emerging research that suggests vaping or using e-cigarettes can come with an increased risk of being diagnosed with Covid-19 and suffering symptoms.”

BILL TARLING — Even the researcher, involved with the online survey pseudo study that is being used as proven study facts said “We don’t know. These are hypotheses”. From just a survey — where they compare “symptoms” that could also be found in COVID possible patients [i.e. doesn’t mean the patients have COVID even though they share some of the same symptoms]; the pseudo study leaps to the bizarre conclusion [unproven hypothetical theory based on their data manipulation and intentional misinterpretation] that “COVID-19 is associated with youth use of e-cigarettes only and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes”. It’s also rather important to note that while the ‘Conclusions’ and Headlines refer to proving a hypothetical association from 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗩𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 — the survey 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 as part of their included “Youth” respondents

ARTICLE LINK:

Lawmakers urge the FDA to temporarily clear e-cigarettes from market amid Covid pandemic

SURVEY ‘STUDY’ HYPOTHETICAL CONCLUSIONS

“Avail Vapor has received its first premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) acceptance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its e-liquid nicotine products. The application now moves to the substantive scientific review where the FDA will determine if Avail has scientifically proven that its nicotine vapor products are appropriate for the protection of public health. This is one of numerous applications that Avail plans to file prior to the Sept. 9, 2020 deadline.”

BILL TARLING — This does not mean they have received a PMTA Approval, it’s simply notice that the FDA has accepted their PMTA submission for consideration.

ARTICLE LINK: FDA Accepts Avail Tobacco Application

“Despite the huge efforts from public health lobbies and vast amounts of taxpayer funding spent on cessation services, the most successful method for stopping smoking is vaping. But across the world, the freedom of individuals to vape is coming under attack: from Australia where vaping is effectively banned, to the Netherlands where a counterproductive ban on flavours is planned for 2021. The liberty for individuals to choose to improve their health by vaping is being constricted. The European Union is even considering taxing the product. Britain has largely been a force for good in promoting a harm reduction approach, with much of the world looking on at our ever-reducing smoking population with envy. However, these changes have not come about because of government mandates, but instead due to vaping technology being developed and sold by entrepreneurs.”

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CAN VAPING REDUCE INEQUALITY?

“Tobacco legislation and regulation is constantly under review at the local, state and federal levels. In this monthly roundup, Convenience Store News highlights the latest proposals and approved changes happening across the United States.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Tackling Tobacco: July 2020 Legislative & Regulatory Roundup

“The CDC itself has provided no evidence to suggest that smoking increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and its own statistics tend to show that smokers are underrepresented in both the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. This is the exact opposite of what we would expect if smoking was a significant risk factor. Unfortunately, any study portraying tobacco or vaping in a negative light seems more often than not presumed to be true, no matter how weak or methodologically challenged. Conversely, any evidence suggesting the opposite is treated as suspect. In this case, there’s no actual evidence as of yet connecting vaping or smoking to increasing young peoples’ susceptibility to COVID-19.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Smoking, Vaping and the Risks From COVID-19

“Vaping in Myanmar will either vanish or move underground after the government approved a complete ban. The bill to ban e-cigarettes and shisha won cabinet approval and unanimous support in the lower house five months after it was proposed by by San Shwe Win, a physician representing Yegyi in Ayeyarwady region. A ban doesn’t necessarily mean they will go away – in neighboring Thailand, they remain in widespread use despite being banned six years ago.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Vaping in Myanmar is now illegal – but will that stop anyone?