Vaping advocates welcome ZYN fans after Senator Chuck Schumer’s scaremongering press conference. Ohio lawmakers pass THR-friendly law. Research finds nicotine in vaping/NRT doesn’t increase pregnancy risk. Dr. Karl-Erik Lund’s keynote speech at SRNT shows eerie similarities between war on snus and war on vaping. Calls to Action and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALLS TO ACTION
STOP A FEDERAL TAX!
Comparing “oranges to oranges” (in this case milligrams of nicotine in vapes vs cigarettes,) if HR 5715 is enacted, vapes would be taxed at a rate approximately 5X higher than cigarettes! Vaping consumers will be paying up to 6¢/mg of nicotine compared to 1.1¢/mg in cigarettes.
The tax hike is just as bad, if not worse, for nicotine pouches, snus, and moist snuff — all reduced risk products compared to cigarettes!
TAKE ACTION: Fight a National Vapor Tax!
MICHIGAN
STOP an onslaught of anti-vaping bills!
Lawmakers in Michigan are once again throwing everything and the kitchen sink into a raft of anti-vaping bills aiming to reduce everyone’s access to these life-saving products! These bills include everything from a flavor ban and tax hikes to repealing state preemption of local tobacco retailer laws.
TAKE ACTION: Michigan: Stop a Slew of Anti-Vaping Laws
FLORIDA
These so-called “PMTA Registry Bills” are currently making their way around the U.S. They make it far more difficult for companies awaiting PMTA to sell life-saving products and ban thousands of products popular with adults.
TAKE ACTION: Stop a Big Tobacco Protection Act!
VIRGINIA
If enacted, this law would effectively ban all vaping products not granted marketing orders through FDA’s “arbitrary and capricious” authorization process (over 99%) and “call for a fine of $1,000 a day for each product sold.”
TAKE ACTION: Virginia: Stop the Joe Camel Protection Act!
WASHINGTON
Bill SB 6118 (aka “PMTA Registry”) legislation has been introduced and referred to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. No hearing is scheduled at this time, but we expect this bill to move quickly!
TAKE ACTION: Washington: Stop a Big Tobacco Protection Act!
VERMONT
A flavor ban bill (S. 18) has already passed the Senate.
UPDATE! Hearings are already happening in the House and, disturbingly, are being hastily scheduled with little to no opportunity given for public comment!
TAKE ACTION: Vermont Update: Stop a Flavor Ban!
INDIANA
Yet another state is trying to pass a “Big Tobacco Protection” act!
Anti vaping bill SB 227 (aka “PMTA Registry legislation”) has been introduced and is scheduled for a hearing on TUESDAY, January 23, 2024!
TAKE ACTION: Indiana: Stop a Big Tobacco Protection Act!
LEGISLATION
Ohio Veto Override
The Ohio Senate voted today to override DeWine’s veto of HB 33! This means local governments are now prohibited from imposing local standards that exceed state restrictions, so existing laws – like the Columbus flavor ban – are now blocked!
CASAA director Jim McDonald reporting for Vaping360.
Testimony I gave, on behalf of @OhioVaping during the Columbus flavor ban hearings.
The only Council-member who remained to hear public testimony seemed oblivious to the factual data, and didn’t care about it anyways.
What I learned is that it’s not facts you need to share,… pic.twitter.com/4gPhKpzBU4— Scott Eley (@ScottEley1) July 31, 2023
READ MORE: Ohio State Senate Votes to Block Local Flavored Vape Bans
TOBACCO CONTROL
Welcome ZYN Fans
In light of Senator Chuck Schumer’s press conference scaremongering about nicotine pouches, this New York Magazine writer tries to gaslight consumers that “No one is really coming for ZYN.” Really? Flavor bans don’t just ban vaping products and baseless “protect the kids” alarmism like this is exactly how the war on e-cigs began. Expect claims of a “Youth ZYN Epidemic” next! This is just how Tobacco Control rolls.
#Zynsurrection pic.twitter.com/TfCE7BDU1B
— Lake (@lakekc) January 24, 2024
On one hand I’m thrilled to see people pushing back on lawmakers going after #ZYN, but there are so many posts like this that continue to vilify nicotine #vaping.
Do you really think these people going after Zyn now weren’t ALSO LYING about vaping? It’s all the exact same BS! pic.twitter.com/Zd4663zBTJ
— Kristin Noll-Marsh (@Noll_Marsh) January 26, 2024
READ MORE: Zyn Nicotine Pouches Are the Latest Front in the Culture War
A False and Deadly Lie
“Vaping is smoking and smoking is vaping.”
~ Dr. Iyaad Hasan, chief operating officer of The Breathing Association in Columbus, OH.
This is patently false and a deadly lie that keeps people from switching to far safer products!
Does he also think rain clouds are smoke and smoke is just rain clouds?
The young adults who vape because they accurately think vaping is healthier than smoking are more attuned to reality than your lying “experts”. https://t.co/hfAOtCrkTV pic.twitter.com/AJ7bpgAePF
— Phil (@phil_w888) January 20, 2024
READ MORE: Experts warn about increase in young adults vaping thinking it is healthier than smoking
IN THE MEDIA
VICE Magazine’s Dangerous Misinformation
This is pretty irresponsible journalism from VICE magazine. Don’t they read beyond the headlines of their own sources?
1) “Just this week, one 22-year-old man had to undergo a double lung transplant because of his vaping habit.”
No, he had a double lung transplant because of Influenza 4 & double pneumonia. His doctors and family believe (w/out providing evidence) it was “made worse” by vaping.
2) “Unfortunately for the roughly five million vapers in the UK, even 0 mg vapes appear to damage the lungs”
No, 0 mg vapes appear to damage cells exposed to e-liquid in a lab. This is not conclusive evidence of real world health risks to fully-functioning, human lungs.
The researchers even state:
“Further investigation is vital to identify the link between the vaping of nicotine-free e-cigarettes and the potential development of lung injury in future years.”
Translation: We didn’t prove there’s a link between nicotine vaping & lung injury.
3) “Sorry, vapers. But it looks like if you’re trying to avoid health risks, your best bet would just be to kick the habit.”
Huh?? Vaping is intended to be smoking harm reduction not harm elimination. This study did not claim to find any risks greater than those that come from smoking.
Articles like this only serve to dangerously confuse the public, especially those who smoke, into believing that there’s no difference between nicotine vaping and smoking. While vaping may not be 100% safe (what IS 100% safe??), it’s been proven to be significantly safer than smoking!
I’m really REALLY surprised to see @VICENews referencing a community-noted @nypost article.
No medical person in the room said the transplant was due to vaping. His mom did. https://t.co/wWEplyJBD3 pic.twitter.com/G5j92xmWhG
— GrimmGreen (@GrimmGreen) January 24, 2024
READ MORE: New Study: Even Nicotine-Free Vapes Harm Your Lungs
RESEARCH
Nicotine e-Cigs and Patches Not a Pregnancy Risk
A study of 1,140 pregnant women who smoked – funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, Health Technology Assessment Programme (UK) – found not only were they significantly more likely to keep using e-cigarettes than the nicotine patches, but both groups had pregnancy outcomes comparable to those who’d abstained completely.
“We did not detect any risks to pregnancy from (e-cigarettes) nor (nicotine patches) use by smokers trying to quit,” they wrote. “These new findings could alleviate some concerns about use of nicotine-containing products to help pregnant smokers quit, but further studies are needed to verify these results.”
ICYMI: A new study showed that regular use of nicotine patches or e-cigarettes among pregnant mothers is not linked to any adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Check out the findings here: https://t.co/DUwfX5i8LW pic.twitter.com/PrDjOFw7Cu
— HCPLive (@HCPLiveNews) January 19, 2024
READ MORE: No adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to e-cigarette use
ADVOCACY
Adult Vaper Survey
Q. I don’t have a lot of time or money, but how can I still advocate for #vaping and tobacco harm reduction? 🤔
A. One QUICK and FREE way to advocate right now is to complete this survey! 👇👇👇
Click here: USA – Vape Consumer Survey 2023
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION
A Familiar Tale
Dr. Karl-Erik Lund’s keynote speech, “Evidence-based Policy or Policy-based Evidence,” at the SRNT-E conference is a must-watch!
He discusses how the goal to end smoking-related disease and death in Norway (and many other countries) have morphed into a misguided war on nicotine (specifically the history of snus) using youth epidemic, gateway & health claims that are very familiar to vaping advocates.
WATCH: Keynote Dr Karl-Erik Lund – Evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
Join the CASAA Live team as they review what happened in the world of THR & vaping advocacy, legislation and science in 2023 — and what’s next in 2024!
Catch the next show LIVE Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 4:30PM ET/3:30PM CT!
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 // 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 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: