Author: Bill Tarling

“The CDC’s switch from vaping to COVID-19 highlights the moral and practical differences between actual epidemics and metaphorical epidemics of risky behavior, both of which fall under the all-encompassing umbrella of “public health.” Even within that framework, which is built around minimizing morbidity and mortality, the CDC’s conflation of EVALI with vaping in general was counterproductive, impeding the harm-reducing shift from conventional cigarettes to nicotine delivery systems that are far less dangerous. By fostering confusion about the relative hazards of smoking and vaping, the CDC damaged its credibility on the eve of a public health crisis in which policy makers and the rest of us are expected to rely on its expertise.”

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The CDC’s Shift From Vaping to COVID-19 Highlights the Crucial Differences Between Real and Metaphorical Epidemics

“New Zealanders who vape can now responsibly dispose of their e-cigarette waste in two ways: drop off at Vapo stores or send their collected waste for free through the post. Last December, leading vape suppliers, Vapo and Alt New Zealand, partnered with global recycling pioneers, TerraCycle, to offer the first programme of its kind to recycle vaping devices and pods. At the time, participants could drop their waste off at the eleven Vapo stores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Nelson. Beginning today, the items can now also be collected at home and sent through the post.”

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Vape Recycling Expands Into NZ Homes

“Raising taxes on vapor products may increase cigarette sales, according to a study co-authored by Catherine Maclean, a Temple University economics professor. Maclean, along with five other researchers, analyzed the effects of e-cigarette taxes on their prices and sales as well as the sales of other tobacco products in eight states and two large counties. They found that when the price of a vapor product increases, consumers buy less of the product and buy more cigarettes.”

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Unintended consequences

“The UK E-Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) is an initiative developed by Cancer Research UK in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS). Among other things, it brings together genuine experts to look at research related to vaping. UKECRF has released its latest vape research briefing, thanks to funding by Cancer Research UK (CRUK). The research briefing is part of a series of monthly updates aiming to provide an overview of new studies on electronic cigarettes. The briefings are intended for researchers, policy makers, health professionals and others who may not have time to keep up to date with new findings and would like to access a summary that goes beyond the study abstract.”

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Electronic Cigarette Research Briefing

“Late Thursday evening, the Senate passed a measure (SB 810) that would identify e-cigarettes and vaping products as “tobacco products” and raise the age to purchase any tobacco products — including tobacco cigarettes, dip and chew, as well as e-cigarettes — from 18 to 21. The age hike would bring Florida in line with a federal law that went into effect in January, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has defined “electronic nicotine delivery systems” as tobacco products since 2016. The Senate’s 27-9 vote, after little floor discussion, came a day after the House tweaked and then approved the measure.”

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Florida Lawmakers Pass Plan Targeting E-Cigarettes

“Juul Labs Inc. co-founder James Monsees plans to leave the e-cigarette maker, stepping down as an adviser and board member. Monsees, who had previously been Juul’s chief product officer, was moved to a newly formed founders office with [co-founder] Adam Bowen in October. Bowen remains at the company. The company in September hired K.C. Crosthwaite, a longtime executive at tobacco giant Altria Group Inc., to take over as chief executive officer.”

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Juul Co-Founder Monsees Steps Down as Adviser, Board Member

“Researchers at Rice University have produced a document highlighting that outright bans are the wrong tool for controlling unwanted vaping behaviour in teen populations. Unintentionally, they also pour cold water on any notion of a gateway from vaping to smoking. The Heartland Institute agrees and says that bans are misguided, especially when the problem has been exaggerated in the first place. The report “Vaping: Clearing The Air” notes that, despite some claiming vaping is a gateway to smoking, “Cigarette smoking has been steadily declining among middle and high school students for over two decades”.”

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Vape Bans Don’t Work

“The National Treasury will later this month kick off a consultative process on the taxation of electronic cigarettes from 2021. This comes after Finance Minister made the announcement in the 2020 Budget. In South Africa, the marketing and distribution of ENDS/ENNDS is still unregulated and there are signs that the use of these products is growing. To begin the consultation process on the treatment of electronic cigarettes, the National Treasury has invited the public to attend a consultation workshop hosted jointly with the National Department of Health. The workshop will be held at Development Bank of Southern Africa, in Midrand, on March 25, between 9am and 11am.”

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Treasury to hold e-cigarette taxation workshop

“Vaping could soon be banned in parts of the CBD as Melbourne City Council considers barring e-cigarettes in existing smoke-free zones. Vaping will no longer be welcome in the city’s 11 no-smoking areas if the council passes an amendment next Tuesday night. Lord mayor Sally Capp said the move would bring the city in line with the rest of the state where e-cigarettes are included in smoking restrictions. The fine for vaping in a smoke-free area will be $100, the same as for smoking cigarettes.”

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Vaping set to be banned in smoke-free zones of Melbourne’s CBD

“Battery giant Samsung has followed up writing to a number of vape retailers by pleading with the American Vaping Association (AVA) that it should spend time and money telling vapers not to buy or use Samsung’s products. In a letter addressed to AVA’s president, Greg Conley, lawyers for Samsung write to tell him that they act on behalf of Samsung in “the defense of product liability lawsuits involving the unauthorised use of lithium-ion batteries in vaping devices”. Terming them “illegal sales of Samsung lithium-ion batteries for vape use”, the lawyers go on to state that Samsung “expressly prohibits the sale and use of its batteries with vaping devices due to the potential risk of overheating.””

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Samsung Sing A Song Sung Blue