Here’s the latest from Brent Stafford at Regulator Watch:

It’s a logical conclusion, following a year of incessant misinformation and media hype over the so-called epidemic of teen vaping and the recent crisis over vaping-related lung disease—it seems the epidemic rhetoric has finally metastasized into the desired result: an out-right-ban on vaping products.
On Wednesday Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes across Michigan in an effort to discourage teens and other young people from vaping. The governor says it’s a public health emergency and she has the unilateral power to ban vaping in her state.

Is this order legal? What will be the impact? And, could Michigan set a dangerous precedent for other states to follow?

Gregory Conley, President of the American Vaping Association joins RegWatch to discuss these questions and hear Gov. Whitmer explain the rationale behind her decision.

Only on RegWatch, by RegulatorWatch.com.

Produced by: Brent Stafford
Released: September 5, 2019

Here’s the latest from Brent Stafford at Regulator Watch:

Juul Labs, one of the largest e-cigarette manufacturers in the world, released a statement to news media on September 4 announcing the company’s support for a flavor ban recently instituted by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

Whitmer utilized her executive power to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Juul, in-kind, responded with the full support for aggressive policies targeted at reducing youth uptake of e-cigarettes.

“As governor, my number one priority is keeping our kids safe,” said Whitmer in a previously released statement sent to Vaping Post. “And right now, companies selling vaping products are using candy flavors to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe. That ends today.”

Nancy Brown, the chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, additionally applauded Whitmer’s decision in the same press release.

“Gov. Whitmer’s action will protect Michiganders, particularly the state’s youth, from the known and unknown potential health risks of e-cigarette use,” Brown said.

Despite the fact that there are various studies that show flavors help smokers switch from cigarettes to vapes, the policy was still implemented. Offhand, consider the conclusions of Greek cardiologist Konstantinos Farsalinos of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens.

Farsalinos wrote in a document submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration that thousands of American vapers prefer non-tobacco flavored e-liquids and vape products over traditional tobacco characterized flavors like mint and menthol.

“Non-tobacco flavors, especially fruit and dessert/pastry/bakery flavors, are the most prevalent choices of the adult established, dedicated US e-cigarette users,” Farsalinos wrote in the submitted document, citing a study that he conducted on 70,000 American vapers. In the same document, he indicated that such a study is the largest survey of its kind conducted to date.

Juul, however, has adopted regulatory positions that position the controversial company (even in the industry) as an outlier to vaping regulations. These policy changes include support for the costly premarket tobacco product approval process in its current form and Tobacco 21 legislation. Many industry groups, including the Vapor Technology Association (VTA), oppose those policies citing concerns that smokers aged 18 to 20 will lose legal access to safer nicotine products and other alternative tobacco products like snus.

As I commented late last month, Juul left the VTA because of disagreements on policy.

Below, I have posted the full statement sent to Vaping Post by Ted Kwong, a Juul spokesperson.

From Juul Labs:

“While we have not reviewed the full decision, we believe that strong and serious actions need to be taken around certain flavored products which is why we already stopped selling our non-tobacco/non-menthol based JUULpods to traditional retail stores, strongly support FDA’s draft guidance and are aggressively fighting against counterfeit and compatible flavored products which can appeal to youth and can be made with unknown ingredients, under unknown quality and manufacturing standards. There is simply no place for kid-appealing flavors in the marketplace. That is why we would also support an outright ban on such flavors, including those that mimic kid-specific candies, foods, and drinks.

“As for menthol-based products, including mint, we believe that to encourage adult smokers to switch from combustible use, the number one cause of preventable death in the world, they should be available at retail alongside tobacco and menthol-based cigarettes. To restrict youth access even in these stores, we strongly advocate for Tobacco 21 laws and are working with retailers to implement the strictest age-verification point-of-sale standards ever imposed for an age-restricted product at retail, far exceeding those in place for other tobacco products or for alcohol. Under JUUL Labs’ Retail Access Control Standards (RACS) program, a point-of-sale system at retail immediately locks when a JUUL product is scanned and remains locked until a retailer electronically scans a valid, of-age government-issued I.D. to verify both the age and the I.D. validity.”

A PBusardo Video – ECC 2019 Grimm Green Interview

In this video we interview Grimm Green at ECC Ontario California 2019 on his new joint project with HellVape. Interview was done for The Smoker’s Show and originally aired in that show on Tuesday September 3rd.

The links:
Grimm Green YouTube
HellVape

Thank you to and please support the Premiere Taste Your Juice Sponsor…

The Video:

*NOTE: Any use of these videos in part or in their entirety without Phil Busardo’s expressed written consent is strictly prohibited.

Hello Phil,

A few months ago I wrote to you about my dear friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and how I had tried (long before her diagnosis) to help her switch from cigarettes to vaping, unsuccessfully. I’d like to share with you an update, and to echo my message – never, never give up trying…whether it be vaping to reduce harm and give up the smokes or holding onto positivity, when your life appears to be hanging by a thread.

Upon receiving the frightening news that she was very ill, my dear friend changed the way she lives her life – she gave up meat, dairy and eats only organic food (fortunately, she has an enormous vegetable garden). She meditates several times a day and practices restorative yoga. Keeping positive and not letting her mind fill with fear is an hourly struggle, something I don’t think anyone can truly relate to unless they’ve faced this kind of challenge. Some days she is exhausted simply from trying to live in the moment. But she doesn’t give up.

She received some uplifting news last week. The chemo and immunotherapy treatments are currently holding the disease at bay, she will be on maintenance treatments for now and will no longer need one of the chemo treatments…the one that makes her terribly sick. She has also gained 2 lbs – this may not sound like a lot of weight to gain but on her very tiny frame it is good news.

She’s by no means out of the woods but considering it’s been only 5 months since her diagnosis it appears something positive is happening. We’ve shared many tears during our visits but thankfully our latest visit was full of silliness and side-splitting laughter. I am grateful for every smile on her face, her honesty when sharing her experience and her appreciation for each moment of every day.

Some people may feel her diagnosis would encourage me to give up vaping. On the contrary, my reaction has been to raise my voice another octave with regards to educating anyone who will listen, about vaping as harm reduction. Recently, a friend (?)didn’t hesitate to share her surprise that I hadn’t given up vaping after receiving the news about my friend’s diagnosis. I responded by telling her if I gave up vaping I’d most likely be smoking again and why would I want to do the one thing that could put my health at risk?…again. I sent her some links and videos about vaping and to my surprise she responded positively and thanked me for educating her 👍.

I simply will not give up educating those who don’t understand vaping and how it has helped millions of people quit smoking and I continue to read as much as I can on the subject; to help me get the point across.

I truly believe vaping saves lives. Many thanks to you and Dimitris for your tireless efforts.

Cheers Phil,
Janine

VTA Statement on Michigan’s Announced Flavor Ban 

September 4, 2019

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she intends to completely ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products in the state of Michigan. The Governor’s edict is not based on science or common sense. Science demonstrates that flavors are not the primary reason youth illegally use vapor products. Instead, research clearly shows that flavors play a critical role in helping adult smokers quit deadly cigarettes. The only thing this flavor ban will accomplish is the loss of more than 1,200 Michigan jobs, hundreds of Michigan small businesses, $51M in state and local taxes, and the creation of a black market.

The Vapor Technology Association will evaluate every option at its disposal, including litigation, to prevent implementation of this ban. The Governor’s unprecedented misstep will force a mass exodus of products from the market and will result in what the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) itself has described as “a public health crisis” as a result. The quarter of a million adult vapor users in Michigan will now be unfairly limited in their access to these life-changing smoking cessation products. Moreover, flavor bans like this one ignore the larger issue of improper marketing by outlier companies – which is where the focus should lie to thwart youth access and exposure to vapor products.  This is the reason why not a single state has implemented a flavor ban to date.

Governor Whitmer indicates she intends to implement the ban through the Emergency Rule-Making process. This process will take at least 30 days, despite reports of the ban taking effect immediately. In addition, the rule is valid for 6 months and may be renewed only once for an additional 6 months. The VTA is working with legal counsel, our lobbying team in Lansing, and local business to attempt to prevent implementation. This unscientific action, based on false media narratives and hysteria, won’t address the underlying issues of youth vaping.

A PBusardo Video – ECC 2019 ST Vapes Interview

In this video we interview ST Vapes at ECC Ontario California 2019 on his new joint project with Sense. Interview was done for The Smoker’s Show and originally aired in that show on Tuesday September 3rd.

The links:
ST VAPES YOUTUBE
Sense

Thank you to and please support the Premiere Taste Your Juice Sponsor…

The Video:

*NOTE: Any use of these videos in part or in their entirety without Phil Busardo’s expressed written consent is strictly prohibited.

The Smoker’s Show S02E03 – Special Guest: Father Jack Kearney

On Tonight’s show we were joined by our special guest, Father Jack Kearney. We discuss his efforts in tobacco harm reduction and addiction counseling.

We also recap the Ontario California ECC event with video and interviews and find out who correctly counted “Dimitris Heads”!!

As always we take your calls and answer your questions.

The Smoker’s Show is a vape show not for vapers, but for smokers.

A show to get information about vaping, to debunk vaping myths, to discuss vaping terminology & technology, and to look, review, & provide starter kits for the transitioning smoker.

We urge all vapers to invite those they know who still smoke to watch the show!

#SMOKERSWANTED

Thank you all for your support and let’s convert more smokers together!

THANK YOU TO AND PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!

COUPON CODES FOR YOU…

• For 10% off Innokin/Platform Products at MyVaporStore use coupon code: MTL10
• For 15% off your Lunar Rover order use coupon code: smokersshow

THE VIDEO:

*NOTE: Any use of these videos in part or in their entirety without Phil Busardo’s and Dimitris Agrafiotis’s expressed written consent is strictly prohibited.

See everything Smoker’s Show Related HERE!

Thank you Phil. When I quit vaping I deleted every single vape reviewer except you haha. You were the very first review I watched years ago when I was buying a Silver Bullet, remember that? 😉 Watching you and Joe Rogan is my comfort food, keep it up pal.

Mike

Tonight on the Smoker’s Show…

• The ECC recap
• Some interviews from ECC
• PLUS Tobacco Harm Reduction Addiction Counseling with our special guest Father Jack Kearney!

See you all at 9PM EST tonight!

#smokerswanted

Click the banner below to be taken directly to the show…

August 29, 2019

VTA Calls For Health Officials to Disclose Facts & Act Responsibly

In light of the seriousness of reports regarding lung disease in youth, the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) strongly urges public officials to thoroughly investigate the circumstances which might have led to each reported hospitalization before making statements to the public as to whether certain products are implicated in these incidents. To date, several public health agencies have failed to provide clear information and, instead, are unnecessarily frightening consumers by failing to distinguish between e-cigarettes and non-nicotine vaporizers.

Recent reports increasingly indicate that these adverse events are linked to illicit substances such as THC and cannabis, not e-cigarettes. For example, the New Mexico Department of Health has clearly determined that products containing THC are likely responsible for the cases highlighted in New Mexico. Despite this, virtually every other public health official continues with their generalized and repeated references to “e-cigarettes.” Such inaccurate warnings will result in either (1) people continuing to use the risky products actually causing the harm about which they have not been specifically warned; or (2) many smokers using e-cigarettes becoming ‘scared’ by these reports and moving back to deadly combustible cigarettes.

VTA condemns in the strongest possible terms the sale or use of black-market products and does not endorse the manipulation or adulteration of vapor products to consume THC, THC oil, marijuana, or synthetic products like K2. E-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing vapor products are designed for the consumption of nicotine to provide adult smokers an alternative to cigarettes; they are not intended to be used to consume illicit substances.

E-cigarettes and nicotine-containing vapor products are used by millions of adults as an alternative to combustible cigarettes, and most vapor products on the market are of high-quality. Nonetheless, no person should:

misuse or alter a vapor device designed for vaping nicotine-containing products by attempting to vape anything other than an e-liquid designed to be used with that device;
use any products other than those purchased from a reputable establishment; and
use a vapor product offered to them by someone else without knowing precisely what they are consuming.
FDA has imposed regulatory requirements on nicotine-containing vapor products for more than three years, since August 8, 2016, including strict labeling and packaging restrictions that require vapor companies to, among other requirements, disclose all of the ingredients in the products sold.

In stark contrast, none of the products designed for THC, cannabis and any other non-nicotine substances are regulated by the FDA.

Importantly, major medical groups and governments have conclusively determined that vapor products are 95% safer than combustible cigarettes, and studies have shown that they are nearly twice as effective at helping adults quit smoking than traditional methods.