Tag: e-cigarettes

COP10 Postponed Until 2024, No Date Announced

Photo: Maksym Yemelyanov
The Tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products have been postponed to 2024.
“Following communication received from Panama, the host country of the Tenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, it is no longer possible to conduct COP10 and MOP3 in November 2023, as scheduled,” the FCTC wrote on its website.
The sessions are expected to be held in Panama, as early as possible in 2024, at dates to be confirmed.
The postponement of COP10 and MOP3 is due to the current security situation in Panama, which has been shaken by mass protests about a government contract that allows a Canadian company to expand its copper mining operations there.
The Convention Secretariat said it will communicate further details in relation to COP10 and MOP3, as soon as available.
November 9, 2023
U.S. FDA Warns Online Retailers for Illegal Vape Sales

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to seven online retailers for selling unauthorized vaping and e-cigarette products.
According to a press release, the warning letters cite the sale of “popular and youth-appealing” disposable products marketed under the brand names Elf Bar, EB Design, Bang, Cali Bars, and Lava.
The warning letters were aided by FDA’s ongoing monitoring of multiple surveillance systems to identify products that are popular among youth or have youth appeal, the agency states.
Findings released last week from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than half of current youth e-cigarette users reported using the disposable e-cigarette brand Elf Bar; earlier this year, the manufacturer of Elf Bar began marketing the product under the name “EB Design.”
In addition, the brands Bang, Cali Bars, and Lava were identified as popular or youth appealing by the agency following a review of retail sales data and emerging internal data from a survey among youth, according to the agency.
“FDA’s robust surveillance of the e-cigarette landscape helps us to identify youth-appealing products and to act quickly to protect public health,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “The goal is to identify, prevent, and reduce these risks to our nation’s youth before they escalate further.”
The retailers receiving warning letters sold or distributed e-cigarette products in the United States that lack authorization from FDA, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to the agency.
Warning letter recipients are given 15 working days to respond with the steps they’ll take to correct the violation and to prevent future violations. Failure to promptly correct the violations can result in additional FDA actions such as an injunction, seizure, and/or civil money penalties.
In the past year, the FDA has issued more than 400 warning letters to retailers for the sale of illegal e-cigarettes, including through a series of nationwide inspection efforts of brick-and-mortar retailers that resulted in civil money penalties issued to more than 40 retailers nationwide for the highest amount levied to date.
“CTP will continue to closely monitor all those in the supply chain, including retailers, for compliance with federal law,” said Ann Simoneau, director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement within CTP. “As always, we will hold anyone accountable who sells unauthorized e-cigarettes labeled, advertised, and/or designed to encourage youth use.”
The FDA has authorized 23 tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products and devices.
November 9, 2023
Study: Toys Produce More E-Waste Than Vape Products

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New research from the United Nations suggests that toys are a much larger contributor to electronic waste than vaping products.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum recently collaborated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to quantify how much electronic waste the world disposes of without realizing it has the potential to be recycled.
According to the analysis, 9 billion kilograms of so-called “invisible” e-waste, worth nearly $10 billion, is thrown away yearly. Around one-third of this waste comes from children’s toys containing some 3.2 billion kilograms of hidden electronics.
Toys contribute 77 times more to the world’s invisible e-waste than vapes, which account for 42 million kilograms annually. The UN estimates that 844 million vapes are thrown away every year, according to recent media reports.
“Electronic waste is our fastest growing waste stream,” says Oliver Franklin-Wallis, the author of Wasteland, a book on waste disposal. “It’s also by far our most valuable waste stream when it comes to household waste.”
However, very few people realize that many common items they dispose of contain e-waste. Magdalena Charytanowicz, at the WEEE Forum, highlighted that that was the purpose of the research.
“We’re trying to make people understand that the items they may not suspect are electronics actually do contain a lot of precious materials, like copper and lithium.”
November 9, 2023
Nic Alternatives Boost Cessation: Tholos Foundation
The Tholos Foundation, in partnership with Japan-based Pacific Alliance Institute and Sweden-based consulting firm Scantech Strategy Advisors, has released a policy paper, Safer Nicotine Works, on how Sweden and Japan have successfully reduced smoking rates by introducing safer alternative nicotine products.
Safer Nicotine Works investigates oral nicotine and heated tobacco’s effects on smoking rates in Sweden and Japan. It follows Vaping Works, which studied four countries’ vaping experiences. The latter found that nations adopting vaping, like the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and New Zealand, experienced smoking rate reductions at double the global average.
In Japan, the introduction of heated tobacco products has remarkably reduced male smoking rates below 30 percent for the first time, reversing previous stagnation.
Sweden, with a smoking rate of 5.6 percent ¹ is poised to be “smoke-free” within the year. The recent decline in smoking is attributed to the rise of nicotine pouches introduced in 2019.

Tholos Foundation’s research indicates consumers in both countries led the shift to safer alternatives. Policymakers’ key role was to ensure these alternatives were accessible and viable. Data confirms that safer nicotine significantly aids smoking cessation. With safer nicotine products like vaping, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and snus, smoking rates are dropping rapidly.
“Safer nicotine is, quite literally, saving lives around the world,” said Tholos Foundation Vice President Lorenzo Montanari in a statement. “The experience of Sweden and Japan, just as in the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and France, proves that when people have access to safer products, they choose them in huge numbers. We now have the tools we need to fight harmful high smoking rates: governments around the world must now support their citizens to make a better choice.”
According to the Tholos Foundation Sweden and Japan’s success in lowering smoking rates highlights the efficacy of comprehensive tobacco control strategies. “They have regulated alternative nicotine products, prioritizing public health,” the organization wrote in a press note. “Sweden and Japan’s experiences provide key lessons for nations aiming to decrease smoking and encourage smoke-free alternatives. By enabling access to safer alternative nicotine products and implementing appropriate regulations, countries significantly improve public health outcomes and address smoking.”

November 9, 2023
Maine Anti-Vape Group Petitioning for Flavor Ban

Credit: Fellow Neko
Supporters of a nicotine product flavor ban gathering signatures as voters hit the polls Tuesday in Maine.
The Flavors Hook Kids Maine Coalition has been at several polling places around the state claiming they want to continue putting names behind the statewide flavor ban effort as the House of Representatives considers the bill in the next legislative session.
The bill passed in the Senate this year. However, the Maine Legislature tabled a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco products statewide last year.
They say the most recent polling shows 63 percent of Mainers strongly support a ban on flavored tobacco and vaping products.
One of their biggest goals is to reduce teen vaping and tobacco use.
”To a young person whose brain is not yet fully formed at the age of 15, 16 years old, nicotine is even more addictive because of that,” said Dan Cashman, Flavors Hook Kids Maine spokesperson. “So, the reason for getting them hooked on nicotine is to get them hooked on tobacco. It’s a pretty easy line to draw from one to the next and none of it is okay.”
It’s been a hot topic in Maine with some health advocacy groups claiming flavored vaping and other tobacco products are marketed toward children while many shop owners owners say banning it would be a big blow to business.
The bill sought to make statewide prohibitions that are already in place in Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Bangor and Bar Harbor.
November 9, 2023
Vaping Ban Suit in Panama to be Heard by High Court

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The Supreme Court of Panama has decided to hear a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the country’s ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
In early August, the Panamanian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ARDTP) filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court, arguing that Law No. 315, which prohibits the use, sale, and import of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco in the country, is unconstitutional and should be repealed.
The Panama Association for Tobacco Damage Reduction (ARDTP) had its appeal case advanced by the Supreme Court on Sept. 21 following a lawsuit, according to media reports.
If the Supreme Court deems the unconstitutional statement valid, the 315 bill will return to the legislative body for modifications.
Once the bill is amended, it will be resubmitted to the Supreme Court to confirm its constitutionality. A proposed new law is being drafted to replace the current 315 bill, thereby supporting provisions based on “risk.”
Panama is one of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela, that have implemented strict legislation since 2022 to restrict the use, sale, and import/export of vaping products.
Many harm reduction advocates argue that the enactment of such legislation has resulted in the creation of a black market for safer nicotine products within their respective countries.
The World Vapers Alliance (WVA) states that Panama’s Supreme Court’s decision to hear this lawsuit is a positive first step.
November 8, 2023
Ohio Votes to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Sales

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Ohio is the 24th U.S. state to allow adult marijuana use for non-medical purposes. Voters in the state approved a measure legalizing recreational marijuana on Tuesday, defying Republican legislative leaders who had failed to pass the proposed law.
“Marijuana is no longer a controversial issue,” said Tom Haren, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. “Ohioans demonstrated this by passing State Issue 2 in a landslide. Ohioans are being extremely clear on the future they want for our state: adult-use marijuana legal and regulated.”
The new law will allow adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to grow plants at home. A 10 percent tax will be imposed on purchases, to be spent on administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries and social equity and jobs programs supporting the industry itself.
The election’s outcome represents a blow to GOP lawmakers, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and business and manufacturing organizations concerned about its impact on workplace and traffic safety, according to the AP.
But as a citizen-initiated statute, the law is subject to change. Republicans who remain opposed to it in the Legislature are free to make tweaks to the law — or even repeal it, though the political stakes are higher now that the voters have approved it.
LeafLink, a large wholesale cannabis marketplace, commended Ohio residents on approving Issue 2 and urged lawmakers to promptly enact the law as passed.
“This vote presents a tremendous opportunity for the state where legal adult-use sales are projected to exceed $1 billion annually,” Policy Director Rodney Holcombe said in a statement. “This move puts Ohio in league with 23 other states that have taken this significant stride forward. We have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of legalized cannabis, including job creation, tax revenue for vital government services and unique business opportunities for entrepreneurs.”
November 8, 2023
Study Finds No Added Harm from Vape Substitution
A new systematic review conducted by the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction on the available scientific research showed no difference in respiratory parameters in human clinical tests on the respiratory effects of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use in participants who smoke tobacco cigarettes.
In their study “Respiratory health effects of e-cigarette substitution for tobacco cigarettes: a systematic review,” the researchers analyzed 16 studies from 20 publications. They found that the large majority of the studies showed no difference in respiratory parameters. According to the authors, this indicates that electronic nicotine delivery systems substitution for smoking likely does not result in additional harm to respiratory health.
One of the problems the researchers found during their evaluation is that many studies were not of sufficient duration for observing any harmful or beneficial effects because these may take time to manifest. In fact, the researchers observed a general low quality of the studies included in the review, with 10 of 16 studies rated at high risk of bias.
In light of the findings of no change in respiratory function plus the presence of reporting spin bias, the researchers call for long term studies that include diverse participants and to assess smoking behavior and history. Furthermore, they note that exclusive ENDS use and dual use with cigarettes should be identified as separate categories for analysis and findings. They also stressed that additional studies are necessary to assess the potential benefits or risks of e-cigarette substitution for tobacco cigarette smoking.

Credit: VlaDee
November 8, 2023
Flavor Restrictions Cause Spike in Online Vape Sales

Photo: Ngampol
Eric Leas
Online shopping for cigarettes and vaping products increased significantly in the weeks following the implementation of a 2022 California law prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Reporting in Tobacco Control, researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego assessed the impact of California’s statewide flavor restriction on online shopping behavior among consumers. Comparing observed rates of shopping queries with expected rates, researchers discovered that shopping queries were 194 percent higher than expected for cigarettes and 162 percent higher than expected for vape products.
“Retailer licensing programs have proven to be effective in enforcing tobacco control laws. However, the exclusion of e-commerce retailers from these programs can undermine their impact,” said principal investigator Eric Leas in a statement.
Despite the flavor restriction, analysis of the first 60 websites returned in the search queries presented at least two online retailers offered access to flavored vaping products or menthol cigarettes to consumers in California—with one query returning as many as 36 websites (60 percent of the search results).
The study authors recommend strengthening regulations to include e-commerce retailers within the scope of retailer licensing programs.
November 8, 2023
BAT Invests Another $90.5 Million in Organigram

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Organigram Holdings Inc. has extended its relationship with British American Tobacco. The move boosts the Canadian cannabis producer’s financial strength and positioning it to expand globally.
Organigram said in a statement that BAT is investing a further $90.5 million in the business, building on an initial $160 million injection back in 2021.
Organigram said the investment will allow it to extend its footprint beyond Canada, and also strengthen its financial position for long-term, sustainable growth, according to media reports.
“This investment bolsters an already strong balance sheet and solidifies our position as a leading cannabis company,” said Beena Goldenberg, chief executive of Organigram.
The firm said the deal enables it to invest in growing the topline of its core business, while optimizing operations to deliver on cost-saving efficiencies, thus accelerating earnings growth.
Organigram will use the majority of the investment to create a strategic investment pool, named Jupiter.
Jupiter will target investments in emerging cannabis opportunities that will enable Organigram to apply its industry-leading capabilities to new markets, it said.
November 8, 2023