Tag: news

BAT Highlights Vuse’s Carbon Neutral Status
Photo: BAT
BAT’s Vuse e-cigarette celebrated its position as the first global carbon neutral vape brand with a carbon neutral voyage down the Thames in London, home of BAT’s global headquarters.
The event was organized to underscore Vuse’s commitment to carbon neutrality and its various supporting initiatives. For instance, in utilizing substantial sea freight as part of its global supply chain, BAT aims to move the majority of Vuse’s global shipments by sea freight by the end of next year.
“I am proud of the way that Vuse is playing its part in delivering A Better Tomorrow by reducing its impact on the environment,” said Kingsley Wheaton, chief marketing officer at BAT, in a statement.
“Vuse is a leading global brand with ever-increasing scale, which allows us to drive global supply chain efficiencies and effectiveness. I am delighted that, in Vuse, we are demonstrating the kind of purposeful behavior expected from leading brands of the world. This commitment will play a part in our vision of A Better Tomorrow becoming a reality.”
Research conducted on behalf of BAT’s R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. subsidiary found that nearly half (46 percent) of consumers said they would prefer using a vapor product from a company that was successful in becoming carbon neutral. A brand’s environmental priorities and impact are increasingly important to consumers in considering their purchasing choices, with nearly a third of consumers broadly viewing a brand more favorably based on their environmental initiatives, according to Reynolds.
Vuse’s carbon neutrality status and ambition to increase sea freight is part of BAT’s bigger ambition to become an environmentally sustainable vape brand with initiatives including:

An ambition to transport the majority of international shipments by sea by the end of 2022 and 100 percent of its consumable pods by end of 2023.

A global device and pod collection scheme; through the “Drop the Pod” campaign, approximately 200,000 pods were collected since the start of the pilot in 2020

Cutting single use plastics from packaging. The “Cut the Wrap” campaign has saved 100 tons of plastic or the equivalent of four million plastic bottles in 20202
BAT’s sustainability efforts and commitment have received notable independent recognition. These include inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for 19 consecutive years (the only tobacco company to be listed in the prestigious World Index in 2020), a MSCI rating of BBB and CDP A List status for climate change.
July 23, 2021
Turning Point Brands Invests in Old Pal Cannabis Brand

Photo: yellowj
Turning Point Brands (TPB) has completed a $8 million strategic investment in Old Pal Holding Co. through a convertible note that includes follow-on investment rights.
Founded in 2018by Rusty Wilenkin and Jason Osni, Old Pal is a leading cannabis brand that operates a non-plant touching licensing model and sells its products to consumers across the U.S.
TPB’s investment will enable Old Pal to expand product offerings in existing states, which include California, Nevada, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Washington and Massachusetts, and will help create the infrastructure necessary to support continued territory and product expansion. As a result of Old Pal’s strong brand recognition and extensive network of licensed cultivation and production relationships, the company has the ability to scale its geographic footprint while continuing to offer consistent and readily available products, according to TPB.
“Turning Point has a proven track record of developing and growing brands and is capitalizing on this experience to identify highly recognizable, leading cannabis brands poised to experience significant growth,” said Larry Wexler, CEO, Turning Point Brands, in a statement. “Given Old Pal’s favorable market position, the awareness of its products outside its current geographies and its unique licensing model, we are confident the brand is well-positioned to further penetrate the market and capitalize on the growth potential of the cannabis industry.”
“Old Pal’s mission is to spread the shareable cannabis lifestyle to customers across the U.S. through accessible and high-quality products,” added Charlie Cangialosi, chief operating officer at Old Pal. “Turning Point Brands’ experience with iconic brands, like Zig-Zag, and success in adjacent and complementary industries will allow us to bring the Old Pal experience to a wider range of markets and consumers.”
July 23, 2021
Greenhut: Utah Nicotine Limits Bad for Harm Reduction
When it comes to government regulation, it’s sometimes hard to get the details right, according to Steven Greenhut in an opinion hew wrote for InsideSources. He says that the Utah Department of Public Health’s proposed new rules that would reduce the amount of nicotine that sellers and manufacturers can include in their “closed-system” electronic cigarettes derail harm reduction efforts.
Two years ago, the agency adopted a compromise that capped the amount of nicotine in closed vaping products at 5 percent. That 2019 rule attempted to protect consumers from the over-consumption of nicotine. But the 5 percent cap still enabled vape users to consume a sufficient amount of nicotine to satisfy their cravings. However, the newly proposed regulation would reduce the nicotine cap to 3 percent.
Greenhut states that the proposed rules could make consumers vape more than they do now, switch to open systems that allow the use of higher-nicotine liquids or even mix their own e-liquid recipes, raising a host of troubling health concerns. Some might even return to cigarette smoking.
“Regulators, at the behest of anti-smoking activists, are missing the forest for the trees—or at least overlooking the 7,000 carcinogenic chemicals that make traditional cigarette smoking so detrimental while focusing on one highly addictive but not particularly dangerous substance,” he states. “Many public-health advocates take a zero-tolerance approach toward anything tobacco or nicotine-related. They seek to ban—or overly regulate—e-cigarettes as a means to reduce availability. Their goal is abstinence, although they often support the use of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved smoking-cessation products, such as patches and gum, that contain some nicotine.”
In their zeal to quash the use of vape and other lower-risk nicotine products, health advocates are endangering public health, explains Greenhut. “One needn’t be a health expert to realize that if nicotine-addicted people can’t get enough nicotine to fulfill their needs, they will try alternatives,” he states. “Utah already adopted a defensible approach to nicotine regulation. Maybe now, the best approach is to leave well enough alone.”
Steven Greenhut is Western Region director for the R Street Institute.
July 22, 2021
Boston Suburb Bans Sales to Anyone Born This Century

Photo: Ryan
The town of Brookline, Massachusetts, will prohibit the sale of all tobacco-related products to anybody born after Jan. 1, 2000, reports Filter. The restriction, the first of its kind in the United States, is designed to prevent future generations from using not only tobacco but also nicotine.
The law also prohibits individuals and companies from selling vapor products to anyone in that age category.
In November 2020, Brookline officials voted overwhelmingly for the “first-in-the-nation Tobacco Free Generation,” paving the way for the current ban. On July 19, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey confirmed that the measure did not interfere with any state laws or the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ensuring its legality.
Public health groups lauded Brookline’s decision, which they view as a potential model for others to follow.
“In addition to preventing a new generation from being addicted to nicotine—and facing the long-term health issues that come with it—Brookline citizens who smoke will be further motivated to quit as smoking becomes rarer around them,” said Lauren Huber, the executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, in a statement.
Harm reduction proponents, by contrast, lambasted the idea. “Not only will enforcement of this become a nightmare, but it continues to push prohibitionist policies that inevitably send people to underground, unregulated markets,” Matt Sutton, the director of media relations for the Drug Policy Alliance.
“The whole measure is ridiculous, especially if you imagine how it will function in 2030 or 2040,” echoed Clive Bates, a tobacco control expert and former director of ASH (UK). “It infantilizes adults, sets up illegal trade between older and younger age groups, and ultimately aims at creeping prohibition, with all the crime and abuse that will bring.”
Brookline has a history of aggressive tobacco control. The suburb was an early adopter of indoor smoking bans, raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21 in 2014, and capped the number of tobacco licenses for retailers in the market. In the spring of 2019, Brookline banned the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol. Six months later, Massachusetts passed the same kind of flavor ban statewide.
July 22, 2021
Supreme’s 88Vape Sales Jump 36 Percent Amid Lockdown
The parent company behind the 88Vape brand, Supreme, announced revenues rose 36 percent as U.K. smokers attempted to quit smoking combustible cigarettes during Covid-19 lockdowns. The company’s total revenue was up 33 per cent at £122.3 million ($166 million) as of March 31, 2021. This is up from £92.3 million in same period of 2020.
Gross profits jumped to £33 million, which helped the company to slash its debt by 64 percent, ending the financial year with a just £7.6 million burden compared with £21.3 million in 2020, according to City A.M. The strongest sales growth was found in vaping and its sports nutrition and wellness branch, the company said in a statement.
Supreme’s partnership with convenience store chain McColl’s to supply shops with vaping products marked the company’s growth in the vaping sphere. The rollout of 88Vape products was completed in March 2021, adding an additional 1,180 retail convenience stores nationwide to Supreme’s portfolio.
“There are clear and very exciting opportunities that exist for our business, particularly in categories like sports nutrition and wellness and vaping, and I look forward to providing further updates in due course as we capitalise on these,” Supreme CEO Sandy Chadha said. “We have made a good start to the current financial year and look to the future with confidence.”
July 20, 2021
HCMC to Receive Patent For Enclosed Vape Cartridge
A new patent will be issued tomorrow to Healthier Choices Management Corp. (HCMC) for a e-cigarette cartridge. U.S. Patent No. 11,064,732, Electronic Vaporizer Cartridge with Encased Heat Source, encompasses novel HCMC technology directed at a vaporizer cartridge with internal components encased in a non-reactive material such as quartz, ceramic or the like.
Credit: Olivier le Moal
The design avoids a potentially toxic reaction between e-liquid, cannabis or CBD oils, or other substances, and the heated metal components of the cartridge. The patent grant expands HCMC’s portfolio of patent assets that promote a healthier way to vape, according to a press release.
“The issuance of this patent is significant in our attempts to make vaping safer. Essentially, this patent is technologically the reverse process of our previously issued patents for our Q-Cup technology,” said Jeff Holman, CEO of HCMC. “Studies have shown that liquids and oils can act as solvents when they sit in direct contact with a metal coil, thereby leeching out heavy metals which can then be ingested during the vaping process. This breakthrough technology has the potential to completely eliminate this problem.”
The design is similar to how a light bulb works. A light bulb has a metal filament inside, but a consumer can only touch the outer glass, which gets hot from the heat of the filament. Similarly, the metal coil being encased in a quartz “bulb” prevents the liquid or oil from coming in direct contact with, or “touching” the metal coil, according to the release. The metal coil heats the quartz, the substance is in contact with the heated quartz, and the vapor is produced without the substance ever touching the metal coil directly.
“While there have been several advances in vape cartridges through the years, most of them have focused on what I will call ‘bells and whistles,’ like controlling device functions from an app. As a result, some of the best vaping cartridges on the market, for both e-liquid and cannabis oil, still have an antiquated exposed metal coil and wicking system at their cores,” explained Holman. “[HCMC] is now exploring our options with regards to producing and distributing these bulb cartridges, or partnering with existing manufacturers that would benefit from providing a potentially groundbreaking and safer cartridge to their customers.”
July 19, 2021
China-based Aspire Sets Terms for $120 Million U.S. IPO
The Chinese vaping company Aspire Global announced terms for its U.S. IPO on Friday. The company plans to raise $120 million by offering 15 million shares at a price range of $7 to $9. At the midpoint of the proposed range, the Shenzhen company would command a market value of $1.3 billion.
“Aspire is a vertically integrated provider of e-cigarette vaporizing technology. Its tobacco vaping products are sold through a distribution network of more than 150 distributors in 30 countries,” according to a release. “In December 2020, the company also commenced the marketing of cannabis vaping technology products in the US.”
Aspire Global was founded in 2010 and earned $82 million in sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020, according to its prospectus. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol ASPG. Tiger Brokers, EF Hutton, TF International, and China Merchants Securities are the joint bookrunners on the deal.
Aspire Global would be the second Chinese vaping company to list on the New York Stock Exchange. Unlike RLX Technology, that recently had a class action filed against for its stock tanking after China announc3ed it would regulate vaping products like traditional cigarettes, Aspire sells most of its products outside the Chinese market.
July 18, 2021
Kaival Brands Secures 2 Patents in China for Bidi

Photo: vegefox.com
Kaival Brands Innovations Group has been granted two copyright protections and two patents by China.
The first patent, China Patent No. 202020067263.5, is a utility model patent, and relates to the nozzle components of the Bidi Stick. The nozzle components play an integral role in delivering a consistent user experience. The second patent, China Patent No. 202030052391.8, is a design patent that covers the entire Bidi Stick product. Bidi Vapor has also secured copyrights for both the Bidi Stick and Bidi Cares names.
Kaival believes that the Chinese vapor market presents a considerable business opportunity. Statista data projects the China combustible cigarette market to top $220 billion in 2021. Vape products are quickly gaining market share in China and if a mere 10 percent of combustible cigarette smokers transition to vape, China would be a $22 billion vape market opportunity. By comparison, Grandview Research anticipates the U.S. vape market to reach $7.4 billion in 2021.
“The copyright and patent protection representations received from China are the first step in our planned journey to introducing the Bidi Stick into one of the world’s largest markets for vape products, China,” said George Chuang, independent director of Kaival Brands, in a statement. “I look forward to advising the company in my role as a board member in interfacing with potential distribution partners in China.”
“Receiving two patents from China, along with copyright protections, should enhance our efforts to more effectively eliminate counterfeit players from the market, and being afforded these protections within a difficult market further validates our best-in-class product lineup” says Niraj Patel, founder and chief executive officer of Kaival Brands and Bidi Vapor. “Both Bidi Vapor and Kaival Brands are adamant about exceeding compliance standards in every global market, and as such our products are intended exclusively for adults 21 and over.”
Following the latest patents, Kaival has intellectual property protections in the United States, the European Union, Australia and China. “We believe this puts us in a strong position to pursue new global markets that we have already received regulatory approval to enter,” says Patel.
July 18, 2021
U.S. Senators Launch Bid for Federally Legal Marijuana
A difficult debate is brewing in the U.S. Senate. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released draft legislation Wednesday to legalize marijuana across the country. The lawmaker was joined by fellow senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in proposing to withdraw laws and federal penalties on marijuana. If passed, the legislation would also expunge nonviolent federal cannabis-related criminal records and let states make their own marijuana laws.
Credit: J Doms
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) would also help put an end to the unfair targeting and treatment of communities of color by removing cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances, according to a press release. “Ending the federal prohibition on cannabis is becoming increasingly urgent as more and more states continue to legalize adult and medical use of cannabis,” the release states. “Despite the fact that cannabis is illegal under federal law, the majority of Americans live in a state where cannabis is legal in one form or another and more than 90 percent of Americans believe it should be legalized for either adult or medical use.”
To date, the adult use of cannabis is legal in 18 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam; and 37 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have advanced laws to allow medical cannabis. Schumer said that this legislative proposal goes a step beyond legalizing cannabis by expunging federal non-violent marijuana crimes and allowing individuals currently serving time in federal prison for non-violent marijuana crimes to petition a court for resentencing. It will also establish a fund to reinvest in the “communities that were hurt by the War on Drugs and provide restorative justice” to communities of color.
“I am proud to introduce our discussion draft of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a legislative proposal aimed at finally putting an end to the federal prohibition of cannabis and addressing the over-criminalization of cannabis in a comprehensive and meaningful way,” said Schumer. “The War on Drugs has too often been a war on people, and particularly people of color. Not only will this legislation remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances, but it will also help fix our criminal justice system, ensure restorative justice, protect public health, and implement responsible taxes and regulations.”
The cannabis industry, which employs over 320,000 workers and generated over $17.5 billion in sales in
2020, also presents a significant opportunity for economic empowerment, according to the release. The industry saw 32 percent growth in 2020; and by 2025, it is estimated that the cannabis industry could have nearly $45.9 billion in annual sales.
These proposals build upon the recent Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. The CAOA expands beyond the MORE Act by proposing a “moon-shot effort to address drugged driving and multi-substance impairment, establishing strong cannabis health and safety standards” under the Food and Drug Administration, and leveraging the expertise of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) within the Department of Treasury to regulate industry practices.
July 15, 2021
Kaival to Reverse Split Stock Ahead of NASDAQ Listing

Photo: Randy Harris
Kaival Brands, the exclusive global distributor of all products manufactured by Bidi Vapor, has implemented a 1-for-12 reverse split of its common stock, effective prior to the opening of the market on July 20, 2021. The reverse stock split was implemented by the company in support of its application to list on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
As a result of the reverse split at the 1-for-12 ratio, every 12 shares will be exchanged for one share of the common stock.
“We are excited for the new phase of Kaival’s capital markets development as we progress to listing on the NASDAQ,” said Niraj Patel, CEO of Kaival Brands, in a statement.
“Our board carefully considered the decision to effect the reverse split of our shares, which is critical for us to list on NASDAQ based on our current stock price. A reverse split is designed as an economically neutral, mathematical event that does not affect the intrinsic value of the company. While many companies execute reverse splits to avoid being delisted, our reverse split is in fact being done for just the opposite reason: to become qualified to list on the NASDAQ, which we believe will have many benefits for our company and shareholders.”
The reverse split is intended to increase the per share stock price of the company’s common stock in order to meet NASDAQ’s requirement that the company’s common stock be $4 or higher as of the listing date. Prior to listing its common stock on NASDAQ, the company’s application must be approved.
The company does not intend to issue fractional shares in connection with the reverse stock split. In order to avoid fractional shares of common stock, the number of shares issued to each stockholder will be rounded up to the nearest whole number in the event a stockholder would be entitled to receive less than one share of common stock as a result of the split. The reverse split will not affect any holder of the company’s common stock’s proportionate voting power, and all shares of common stock will remain fully paid and nonassessable.
July 15, 2021