Author: Timothy Donahue

Ispire Launches VLT ‘Reloadable’ Cannabis Vape
Ispire Technology announced the launch of VLT, a groundbreaking vaping pod system that redefines the 510-thread experience. VLT’s proprietary reload system offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution that empowers consumers to take control of their vaping devices, addressing key concerns about environmental impact and disposable hardware waste.
“VLT is a transformative step forward for cannabis vaping,” said Michael Wang, co-CEO of Ispire. “We’ve combined the familiarity of 510-thread devices with a versatile reloadable system that gives our partners and consumers true ownership of their vaping experience while tackling the environmental and economic challenges that come with disposables.”
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Design
Unlike disposable vapor products that contribute to electronic waste by discarding the entire device, including the battery, VLT’s reusable system promotes sustainability by allowing consumers to reload their pods. This means the battery isn’t thrown out with each use, reducing electronic waste and making the product more environmentally friendly.
The eco-friendly design, featuring a reusable battery and multiple pod sizes, reduces electronic waste and supports Ispire’s commitment to environmental responsibility. A portion of VLT’s proceeds will be donated to organizations dedicated to reducing non-recyclable waste, making VLT a plastic-neutral product.
Cost and Operational Efficiency
VLT’s reloadable pods offer a greener alternative and are cost-effective compared to traditional disposable systems. For manufacturers, VLT drives operational efficiency through the Ispire ONE filling machine, cutting labor costs and maintaining product integrity. VLT’s airtight design preserves the natural terpenes in cannabis extracts, enhancing flavor profiles and extending shelf life.
Elevating the 510-Thread Experience
VLT elevates the vaping experience by merging the convenience of disposables with the reliability and performance of the 510-thread system. Available in a variety of pod sizes, colors, and fully customizable options, VLT caters to the needs of THC, CBD, and alternative cannabinoid users.
The advanced pod technology ensures maximum terpene preservation with an airtight chamber that prevents evaporation and ensures every draw delivers a consistent and premium experience.
“Disposable vapes have contributed significantly to electronic waste, but with VLT, we’re giving consumers the power to not only save money but also reduce their carbon footprint. VLT offers a premium, sustainable experience without sacrificing convenience or affordability,” Wang stated in a release. “It’s an ideal solution for multi-state operators (MSOs), single-state operators (SSOs), and brands seeking sustainable growth while offering consumers a smarter, eco-friendly alternative to disposables.
November 25, 2024
CAPHRA Calls on Mongolia to Adopt THR Policy

Credit: Zero Photo
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has called on the Mongolian government to reassess its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR) products. CAPHRA cites evidence from Japan that demonstrates significant health and economic benefits from embracing safer alternatives to smoking.
A recent study published in the journal Healthcare indicates that if 50 percent of smokers in Japan switched from combustible cigarettes to heated tobacco products (HTPs), it could prevent 12 million patient cases and save JPY 454 billion ($2.95 billion) in healthcare costs. This data underscores the immense potential of THR strategies in countries with high smoking rates.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated, “The Japanese example clearly illustrates that safer nicotine products can be an effective harm reduction tool in nations where smoking prevalence remains high and other safer nicotine products are unavailable.”
Mongolia, which faces significant tobacco-related health issues, could greatly benefit from adopting a more progressive approach to THR. Despite the adoption of a Tobacco Control Law in 2005 and a ban on indoor smoking since 2015, enforcement remains weak. Cigarettes are still sold near schools without regulation, and there is no violation monitoring or fines.
November 25, 2024
Spain Begins Consultation on Vape Flavor Ban

Credit: Oleksii
Spain has started a public consultation on new rules for vaping devices, reports Sur.
The proposed legislation would ban the ban on the use of non-tobacco flavorings in e-cigarettes with the goal of making these products less attractive to young people.
The decree also aims to regulate the labeling of electronic cigarettes without nicotine. As with traditional tobacco, they will have to have a list of ingredients and health warnings indicating that their consumption is harmful to health.
They will also have to include a leaflet with information on contraindications and possible adverse effects.
November 25, 2024
Lawmakers Urged to Reject UK’s Generational Ban

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Campaigners are urging British lawmakers to reject plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to future generations of adults.
Ahead of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Nov. 26, the smokers’ rights group Forest says the proposal is “unnecessarily divisive” and is not supported by the majority of the public.
According to a recent poll commissioned by Forest and conducted by Yonder Consulting, 60 percent of respondents said that if people are allowed to drive a car, join the army, purchase alcohol, and vote at 18, they should also be allowed to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Fewer than a third (31 percent) said they should not be allowed to purchase tobacco when legally an adult, while 9 percent said, “don’t know.”

MPs need to think very carefully about the unintended consequences of raising the legal age of sale of tobacco.
Simon Clark, director, Forest
“A generational ban on the sale of tobacco is unnecessarily divisive because it will create a two-tier society in which some adults have different rights to others,” said Forest Director Simon Clark.
“Eventually it will create the absurd situation whereby a 40-year-old can purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products, but someone born a few days later could be denied the same right.
“MPs need to think very carefully about the unintended consequences of raising the legal age of sale of tobacco.
“Denying future generations of adults the right to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products legally won’t stop people smoking.
“Creeping prohibition will simply drive the sale of tobacco underground and into the hands of criminal gangs and illicit traders.”

November 25, 2024
Kyrgyzstan Signs Law to Ban Vaping Products

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Kyrgyzstan will ban vapes from mid-2025.
President Sadyr Japarov signed a law prohibiting the import, circulation and use of electronic cigarettes.
After July 1, 2025, those caught vaping will risk a fine $115 and sellers of e-cigarettes will be subject of a penalty ranging from $230 to $750.
Importing electronic cigarettes will result in correctional labor for two months to one year or a fine of up to $1,390. Meanwhile, importing electronic cigarettes in large quantities will result in a fine of up to $2,300 or imprisonment for up to two years.
The law, titled “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts in the Sphere of Protecting Citizens’ Health,” will come into force on July 1, 2025.
November 25, 2024
U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent: Report

A new report from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative showed that from 2019 to 2023, there was a 47 percent increase in e-cigarette unit sales at U.S. retail outlets. Flavors like fruit, candy, mint, menthol and desserts accounted for more than 80 percent of sales.
The report, Monitoring E-Cigarette Trends in the United States: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Kids from Flavored E-Cigarettes, urges states to adopt comprehensive statewide policies restricting flavored e-cigarette sales. The report found that the most effective policies to restrict these sales clearly define products and include comprehensive flavored tobacco restrictions without flavor or product exceptions, incorporate community and retailer education and are supported by enforcement.
“The rise in e-cigarette sales, particularly those with youth-appealing flavors and graphics, is deeply concerning, especially as manufacturers evolve e-cigarette products to feature gamified devices and increased nicotine strength,” said Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, in a statement. “However, the data from states like Massachusetts, California and New York demonstrate how comprehensive policies can effectively curb youth access. This report underscores the urgent need for widespread adoption of similar measures to protect our young people from the risks associated with e-cigarette use.”
“E-cigarette sales have skyrocketed in recent years, with an explosion of new products—many designed to attract and addict our youth with increasingly high levels of nicotine,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and president of Truth Initiative. “Today’s e-cigarettes are available in a vast array of enticing flavors and feature sleek, colorful designs. They’re also bigger, stronger and cheaper than previous devices, which only heightens their appeal. Even more concerning, over 80 percent of e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. While enforcement is vital to ending the youth e-cigarette crisis, retailers also must do the right thing, take responsibility to protect their young customers and remove all illegal products from store shelves.”
“While the latest data from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative show a dangerous rise in sales of e-cigarettes, they also reveal a notable decline in sales where strong policies restricting flavored e-cigarettes are implemented,” said Kelly Henning, public health program lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The progress in states with strong policies underscores the urgent need for more action to swiftly and successfully combat the flavored e-cigarette epidemic among youth across the United States.”
November 22, 2024
Study: No Major Respiratory Symptoms for Vapers

A groundbreaking international study conducted as part of the Veritas cohort project has provided crucial insights into the respiratory health of exclusive e-cigarette users with no established history of smoking. Published in Scientific Reports, the study assessed respiratory symptoms among adults who had never been habitual smokers but used e-cigarettes, offering a rare glimpse into the health effects of vaping in this specific population.
Led by researchers from CoEHAR and their global collaborators, the study compared respiratory symptoms between a cohort of e-cigarette users and a control group who had never smoked conventional cigarettes. The results indicate that individuals who have never smoked but exclusively used e-cigarette devices do not exhibit clinically relevant respiratory symptoms. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of distinguishing between statistically and clinically significant results when evaluating the health impacts of e-cigarettes.
“Veritas lays the groundwork for longitudinal research to further assess the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on respiratory health. These findings are essential for shaping public health policies based on scientific evidence, especially as we work to differentiate the effects of vaping from those of traditional smoking,” said Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR.
“What makes the Veritas project unique is not only its reach across six geographically diverse areas,” said Jeffrey Zamora, the study’s lead author, “but also its ability to provide data on the real-world use of e-cigarettes, including the most commonly used device types (refillable, disposable, pod-based) flavor preferences, and variations across different socio-cultural groups.”
November 21, 2024
Consumer Files Suit for Alleged Overcharging for Zyn

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Swedish Match North America is being sued for allegedly overcharging U.S. customers for its popular tobacco-free Zyn nicotine pouches.
The class action lawsuit, filed on Monday in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, alleges that the Philip Morris International subsidiary is violating federal and state antitrust laws concerning the market for modern oral nicotine pouches.
The plaintiff, a resident of Florida, claimed that Swedish Match illegally gained monopoly power through various business practices aimed at eliminating rival Dryft from the market, Reuters reports.
Swedish Match now has an estimated 80 percent of the market for nicotine pouches, which the company sells in different flavors and strengths for about $6 a tin, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement, Philip Morris, which was not named as a defendant, said, “We believe the plaintiff’s claims are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend against them.
Marlboro maker Philip Morris, in 2022, acquired the Swedish tobacco and nicotine products company for $16 billion. Philip Morris has stated an ambition to move away from health-harming cigarettes.
The consumer lawsuit seeks class action status for Zyn consumers and damages of more than $5 million.
November 20, 2024
Thai Health Officials Reporting New EVALI Cases

Scenes like this are rare in Thailand. This vaper in Koh Samui, Thailand could face fines or even jail. (Timothy S. Donahue)
A 32-year-old man from Buri Ram, Thailand, has been diagnosed with EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury), according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC) at the Ministry of Public Health.
The patient, who was admitted to Buri Ram Hospital, was coughing up blood, and his condition quickly developed into acute and severe pneumonia, said Dr Chayanan Sittibusaya, director of the ministry’s Division of Tobacco Product Control.
“We don’t usually encounter acute pneumonia and the symptoms deteriorated quickly within 24 to 36 hours. In this case, he had to be put on a ventilator,” he said, as reported by media. “All tests for infection, such as Covid-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and others, were negative. After the patient was able to remove his breathing tube, he told doctors he took about 400 puffs of an e-cigarette per day, every day.”
Chayanan said it was unclear how long the man had pursued an aggressive smoking habit. However, he also had underlying diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure. A detailed physical examination revealed white patches on his lungs.
The patient’s condition is improving overall, and there is no infection. However, he was experiencing symptoms similar to nicotine withdrawal.
The hospital brought the case to the attention of the Buri Ram provincial public health office to investigate the disease further.
E-cigarettes are prohibited in the country, but they are easily available both online and offline, despite the authorities’ vow to deal with them.
November 20, 2024
Senator Wants Harsher Vape Laws in Kentucky

Exterior of Kentucky State Capitol Building on a Summer afternoon. Frankfort, Kentucky, USA (Credit: EJ Rodriquez)
Lawmakers, health leaders, and even young people talked in an interim legislative panel yesterday in Frankfort, Kentucky and discussed the dangers of youth use of vaping products.
A law was passed last year to address some youth vaping issues, but lawmakers were told that the new rules don’t go far enough.
Senator Jimmy Higdon says he may file a bill to require retailer licenses. He says that House Bill 11, which dealt with youth vaping, doesn’t have consequences for offenders, according to media reports.
“That’s a good tool to have hanging over your head. If you continue to break the law, you will lose your license,” said Sen. Higdon, R-Ligdon.
The Denton Group represents some vaping businesses, and a representative said that House Bill 11 is already hurting some. She wants a delay in enforcement of the bill.
“To allow time to create regulations which is based on science and help businesses keep operating in the commonwealth and adult smokers with alternatives,” said Abbie Gilbert with the Denton Group.
Senator Higdon also says his bill could have consequences for students caught with vapes away from school campuses.
The proposed bill could be discussed in the legislative session set to begin January 7.
November 20, 2024