Tag: Canada

  • Canadian Group Concerned By E-vapor Misinformation

    Canadian Group Concerned By E-vapor Misinformation

    Credit: Sarah J

    Misinformation in the vapor industry is a growing concern, according to an industry advocacy group. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) says its alarmed by the resurgence of media reports inaccurately depicting vaping as being as harmful as smoking, as well as linking vaping to increased COVID-19 symptom severity.

    The organization says both claims have long been disproven and it is concerning to see a sudden return of misinformation coming out of the United States.

    Darryl Tempest, executive director of the CVA says that disregarding the facts in bad faith jeopardizes the health of millions of smokers globally.

    In addition to misleading smokers about the relative harm vaping products pose, Tempest says it is equally troubling to the CVA that many publications continue to link vaping to COVID-19 long after health authorities have verified that there is no proven connection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated, “E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of COVID-19 is not known.,” a press release states.

    The Science Media Research Center released statements regarding their understanding of vaping and COVID-19, and these statements clearly demonstrate that the scientific community recognizes the great harm reduction potential of vaping products.

    “There is no evidence that vaping increases the risk of infection or progression to severe conditions of COVID-19. However, vapers with a long previous smoking history could exhibit conditions seen in vulnerable patients. However, this would not be an effect of vaping but of previous smoking. Since completely switching from smoking to vaping improves cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, smokers who switch to vaping might be expected to have a better prognosis if infected by COVID-19,” said Dr. Caitlyn Notley. “E-cigarettes are the most popular consumer option for stop smoking support, and they are effective. People should be encouraged to switch to vaping rather than continuing to smoke tobacco.”.

  • British Columbia Implements New Vaping Plan

    British Columbia Implements New Vaping Plan

    Credit: Viviana Rishe

    The Canadian province of British Columbia is bringing into force regulations to fully implement its “leading-edge” vaping action plan, which was announced in November 2019.

    The regulations restrict the content, flavor, packaging, advertising and sale of vapor products in British Columbia. The province’s ministries of Health and Education will also establish a provincial youth advisory council to develop, pilot and launch youth-informed strategies to reduce vaping by young people.

    “We heard from young people across the province that vaping companies are targeting them with a product that poses real and serious health and addiction risks,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That’s why we are bringing in regulations to keep vapour products away from developing lungs and to prevent nicotine addiction. We know youth are eager to get involved in this action, and I’ve seen promising work through early youth engagement to help influence their peers and stop this dangerous trend of addiction.”

    The new E-Substances Regulation, under the Public Health Act, restricts the amount of nicotine in vapor pods and e-liquids to 20mg/ml, and requires retailers to sell only those vapor products that are plainly packaged and have labels with health warnings. New retailers planning to sell vape products will need to comply with the regulation immediately. Existing vapor-product retailers will have a short transition period until Sept. 15, 2020.

    The regulation immediately prohibits all retailers from selling non-nicotine or nicotine-cannabis blended vapor products.

    Changes to the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation ban advertising of vapour products in places where youth can access, hear or see advertisements, such as bus shelters or community parks. They also restrict the sale of flavoured vapour products, which are attractive to youth, to adult-only shops.

    The provincial youth advisory council will launch in September 2020, through a partnership between the ministries of Education and Health. The council will be established next month and will also monitor and evaluate the overall impact of the plan.

  • Alberta Introduces Bill to Regulate Vaping

    Alberta Introduces Bill to Regulate Vaping

    Credit: Chris Henry

    The Canadian Province of Alberta has introduced new legislation on vaping that would include a ban on anyone under 18 from using e-cigarettes.

    Health Minister Tyler Shandro says there is mounting evidence on the health risks of vaping and statistics show more young people in Alberta are indulging, according to a story in the Eckville Echo. “Strong action needs to be taken to address significant increases in youth vaping,” Shandro said Tuesday prior to introducing the bill in the house.

    Shandro’s ministry says that in the last five years, vaping rates among high school students has risen to 30 per cent from eight. It also says evidence continues to show health risks, including lung damage and nicotine poisoning.

    Alberta is the only province without vaping legislation. If the bill passes, there would be restrictions — matching those in place for traditional tobacco products — on displaying and promoting vaping products in stores. Speciality vape stores would be exempt.

    The province said it does not intend to ban or restrict flavors for e-cigarettes, but the bill proposes cabinet be allowed to make such restrictions once the law is passed and proclaimed.

    The legislation would also expand the list of places where traditional smoking and vaping would be banned — adding playgrounds, sports fields, skateboard and bicycle parks, and public outdoor pools — to further avoid exposing youth to products and second-hand smoke.

    The legislation follows a review of vaping that began last year. The government said 250 people were consulted and another 9,500 provided online comments, according to the story.

  • Cannabis Offers Potential Resistance to Coronavirus

    Cannabis Offers Potential Resistance to Coronavirus

    Credit: Christina Winter

    An Alberta, Canada researcher says a new study shows that cannabis extracts are showing potential in making people more resistant to the novel coronavirus.

    After sifting through 400 cannabis strains, researchers at the University of Lethbridge are concentrating on about a dozen that show promising results in ensuring less fertile ground for the potentially lethal virus to take root, said biological scientist Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, according to an article in the Calgary Herald.

    “A number of them have reduced the number of these (virus) receptors by 73 per cent, the chance of it getting in is much lower,” said Kovalchuk. “If they can reduce the number of receptors, there’s much less chance of getting infected.”

    Employing cannabis sativa strains over the past three months, the researcher said the effective balance between cannabis components THC and CBD — the latter more typically associated with medical use — is still unclear in blocking the novel coronavirus.

    “It will take a long time to find what the active ingredient is — there may be many,” said Kovalchuk, whose Pathway RX is owned partly by Olds-based licensed cannabis producer Sundial Growers and partnered with Alberta cannabis researcher Swysh.

    But it’s generally the anti-inflammatory properties of high-CBD content that have shown most promise, he added.

    “We focus more on the higher CBD because people can take higher doses and not be impaired,” said Kovalchuk.