Tag: news

Connecticut Cannabis Bill Bans Vaping in Many Public Places
The new bill in Connecticut that legalizes cannabis comes with a surprise. The legislation also bans vaping in many public places. In addition to being banned in health care settings, restaurants, state buildings and more, vaping and smoking tobacco or marijuana will now be prohibited in hotels, motels and other places of lodging, as well as in correctional facilities and halfway houses.
Credit: Andy Dean
Additionally, in all places where vaping is prohibited it will be restricted not only indoors but also outside within 25 feet of a doorway, window or intake vent, according to the Hartford Courant. That means, for example, a restaurant worker who takes a smoke break outdoors will have to do so at a 25-foot distance from the building itself.
The full list of places where smoking is banned in Connecticut now includes:

Any building, rail platform or bus shelter operated by the state (with the exception of public housing)

Any health care institution

Any retail food establishment accessed by the general public

Any restaurant

Anywhere alcohol is sold

In or on the grounds of any school

In or on the grounds of any child care facility

In any elevator

In any hotel room

In any correctional facility or halfway house

In any college dormitory
Landlords and building managers will not be allowed to prohibit the possession or consumption of cannabis but will be allowed to ban residents from smoking it. Connecticut recently joined 18 other states in legalizing recreation cannabis, after a multi-year effort in the state legislature.
Marijuana possession will be legal in Connecticut as of July 1, while retail sales are likely to begin next year. The bill lets people from cities that have borne the brunt of the war on drugs qualify for expedited licenses, in an attempt to reverse disproportionate impacts of marijuana prohibition.
“We had a chance to learn from others and I think we got it right here in the state of Connecticut,” Gov. Ned Lamont said before signing the legislation. “We weren’t the first but we were the first to show we can get it right.”
June 27, 2021
Lawmakers Press Acting FDA Chief on Flavored Vapes
The acting US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock on Wednesday was pushed by members of the U.S. Congress to ban all flavored e-cigarettes, saying the sweet and fruity flavors are attracting too many children and teens.
Credit: Kurgu 128
However, Woodcock would not assure lawmakers on whether the agency plans to ban or otherwise limit the sale of flavored vapes later this year. The agency has until September 9 to decide. When pressed multiple times over the course of the hearing, Woodcock would not commit to denying premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for flavored vaping products at this time, according to CNN.
“While I can’t predict the future, I think that might be likely. We also would have to, regardless, limit advertising and sales in targeting children and other practices,” Woodcock said, adding that the FDA will look at the scientific evidence. “As I have said already, I can’t prejudge the scientific,” she said, before being cut off.
During the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, Rep. Katie Porter asked if the FDA banned all flavored e-cigarettes, would less kids continue to vape, among those who have started. “If kids have the choices of any tasty flavor, they’re going to go for it, and I’m speaking to you from experience here as a mom of three school-aged kids,” Porter said. “If there were no watermelon snow cones, my kids are happy with blue raspberry. No blue raspberry? They’ll take mango. No mango? They’ll take strawberry. But if their only choice was a brown, tobacco-flavored snow cone, they are going to walk away.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, said after the hearing he felt Woodcock would do as Democratic members of Congress wished. “I am more optimistic than ever that Commissioner Woodcock will do the right thing and deny the premarket tobacco product applications (PMTA) for all flavored vaping products, and all high-nicotine vaping products,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement.
Woodcock also suggested at the hearing that e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs Inc. played a significant role in creating a youth vaping epidemic. When asked if Juul was “the e-cigarette company most responsible for creating this epidemic.” Woodcock replied that it does “appear” to be the case.
Woodcock would also not commit to removing menthol-flavored e-cigarette products from the US market, even though she said she believes menthol flavoring could heighten the effects of nicotine.
“I was so pleased that you banned menthol combustible cigarettes, which was the right thing to do,” Krishnamoorthi said during the hearing. “Will you pledge to clear the market of menthol e-cigarettes?”
“I can’t prejudge our decisions,” Woodcock replied.
June 25, 2021
Senator Durbin Blasts FDA Over E-Cigarette Oversight
U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin yesterday testified at a House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy hearing that focused on youth vaping and the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating e-cigarette products.
During his testimony, Durbin blasted the shortcomings of the FDA’s tobacco oversight over the last several years and urged the agency to rectify its missteps and put public health and the safety of children at the forefront of its mission, according to a press release.
“Flavored e-cigarette products have exploded in popularity among our kids—nearly four million now vaping, a 361 percent increase in just eight years when only 800,000 kids were vaping,” Durbin said. “Who is the cop on the beat to whom we entrust our children? It’s the Food and Drug Administration. And this agency has been timid and reluctant for way too long.”
All e-cigarette manufacturers were required to submit Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) to FDA by September 9, 2020, in order to legally stay on the market. FDA is now evaluating those applications based upon a public health framework and is required to complete review by September 9, 2021. FDA’s decisions on the PMTA applications will determine the course of the youth vaping epidemic.
In his testimony, Durbin urged the FDA to finally apply the public health standard that Congress passed in 2009 under the Tobacco Control Act and evaluate whether a product can stay on the market if it is, “appropriate for the protection of public health.” Durbin said he feared the FDA will over-value the unproven potential benefit of cessation for adult smokers, while under-valuing the clear evidence and experience we’ve had over the past several years on how flavored products hook kids.
“Only four percent of adults use e-cigarettes [compared] to 20 percent of high-school students. Kids who never would have picked up a tobacco product are vaping. It’s simple: any product with a history of increasing youth use must be rejected by FDA—especially flavored products that we know hooks the kids. This is the Super Bowl for the FDA’s tobacco effort and I’m afraid they aren’t ready for primetime. I hope they prove me wrong,” Durbin said.
Durbin went on to describe how despite promises from the Trump Administration to crack down on kid-friendly e-cigarette flavors, the FDA still left loopholes that have been exploited by the vaping industry to continue to hook kids onto new and illegal products.
“The result? Kids migrated…to the products that remained unregulated on the market: menthol flavored e-cigarettes and disposable vaping products. The use of disposable e-cigarettes… which were exempted from FDA’s January 2020 action, increased 1,000 percent last year. Make no mistake: kids get it. If we don’t take this seriously they will find those loopholes continue their addiction,” Durbin said. “And because FDA allowed menthol-flavored cartridges from JUUL and others to stay on the market, their use…increased from 11 percent to 62 percent of the [cartridge] market. Another failure by the FDA.”
June 24, 2021
CBP Atlanta Seizes Nearly 20,000 Counterfeit Vape Pens
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers last week seized nearly 20,000 flavored vape pens worth nearly $600,000 in Atlanta. According to the agency, last Wednesday, CBP Atlanta officers found 66 boxes of “Ricky and Morty” branded vape pens and e-cigarettes as they were inspecting a shipment and suspected the items violated copyright and trademark law.
Credit: CBP
The vape pens, which originated in a shipment from China, were to be distributed across Georgia, according to a statement. CBP contacted Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and confirmed they hadn’t licensed their copyright of the animated series for vape pens. Officers ultimately seized the 19,800 vape pens with an estimated retail price of over $590,00.
“One of our primary missions is to intercept merchandise that could pose a serious health risk to the consumer, but this shipment of counterfeit vape pens violated Intellectual Property Rights,” said Paula Rivera, Atlanta’s CBP port director. “CBP collaborates with many government agencies to enforce laws to protect the health and safety of the consumer and our communities.”
In January, CBP Chicago seized 50,000 illegal “Rick and Morty” vape pens. CBP says each year, they seize millions of counterfeit goods that could otherwise hurt the U.S. economy, threaten consumers and fund criminal activity. Counterfeit items are often sold in underground outlets or on third-party e-commerce sites, according to CBP. Consumers might think they’re buying a genuine product but are left with a poor-quality item.
Last year, CBP seized nearly $1.3 billion worth of goods that violated intellectual property rights. The FDA announced an increased enforcement priority of electronic nicotine delivery systems, and issued detailed guidance to the industry of these new enforcement priorities that regulate the unauthorized importation of tobacco products.
CBP provides basic import information about admissibility requirements and the clearance process for e-commerce goods and encourages buyers to confirm that their purchases and the importation of those purchases comply with any state and federal import regulations.
CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.
June 24, 2021
Think Tank to Debate COP9 Impact on Vapers
The U.K. Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) will host a discussion today on the impact of the World Health Organization’s ninth Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which is scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 in the Netherlands.
The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the FCTC, where all parties to the FCTC meet biennially to review the implementation of the convention and adopt the new guidance. For the first time since leaving the European Union, in November 2021, the U.K. will send a delegation to the COP.
According to the IEA, COP9 poses a significant threat to the U.K.’s approach to harm reduction policy. “The WHO is increasingly, and against the clear evidence, positioning itself as an enemy of vaping,” the think tank states on its website. “The U.K. is a world leader in tobacco harm reduction, and a significant reason for this is our comparatively liberal approach to vaping products and e-cigarettes.”
Participants in the IEA forum will discuss who represents the U.K. at COP, how decisions are reached, the impact of these decisions on the U.K.’s harm reduction progress and the country’s 2030 smoke-free target, among other topics.
Speakers includes IEA Director General Mark Littlewood (chair), Matt Ridley (vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vaping), Christopher Snowdon (IEA head of lifestyle economics) and Louis Houlbrooke (NZ Taxpayers Union).
The discussion can be followed live on the screen or here.
June 24, 2021
Altria Execs Scorn Company’s Vapor Products During Trial

Photo: Paul Brady | Dreamstime.com
Altria Group Executives have been describing in detail their failure to come up with a marketable vapor product during an antitrust trial, reports The Wall Street Journal. Products leaked, generated high formaldehyde levels and lacked the nicotine smokers were looking for, according to their testimonies.
In April 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to unwind Altria’s 35 percent interest in Juul Labs, which the cigarette maker acquired in December 2018 for $12.8 billion.
A key question at trial is why Altria ended production of its own e-cigarettes in late 2018, shortly before announcing its investment in Juul.
Altria in October 2018 announced it was halting the sale of its pod-based and fruity-flavored e-cigarettes in response to a call by the Food and Drug Administration for e-cigarette makers to help stem a surge in vaping among children and teens. Then in December of that year, two weeks before the Juul agreement was signed, Altria pulled its remaining e-cigarettes off the market.
The FTC alleges Altria did so because of an illegal side deal in which it agreed to close its own e-cigarette business so it could take a stake in Juul. Altria and Juul both deny they had any such agreement.
Altria says it halted its e-cigarette sales amid pressure from regulators to curb youth use and an internal reckoning about the company’s inability to develop a successful vaping product. Juul says it didn’t see Altria’s e-cigarettes as a threat, didn’t ask Altria to shelve them and was surprised when Altria did so.
Juul and Altria argue that since the deal was struck, competition in the e-cigarette market has increased not decreased. Juul’s market share has fallen as have e-cigarette prices.
The FTC is seeking to force Altria to divest its stake and terminate the companies’ noncompete agreement. The case is being heard by an administrative law judge, who will make an initial decision; the agency’s commissioners will then vote on the matter.
June 24, 2021
House Committee to Question Acting FDA Leader Today
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock is set to testify before a House subcommittee on Wednesday morning about youth vaping. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, chair of the panel, plans to press Woodcock to do more to stop kids from vaping and becoming addicted to nicotine.
“We still have a youth vaping epidemic, even amidst our pandemic,” said Krishnamoorthi, in a story for Yahoo Finance.
Krishnamoorthi has been an advocate for cracking down on the vaping industry over the past several years. In 2019, amid an outbreak of vaping-related illness linked to black market THC products not nicotine, there was bipartisan support for a crackdown — leading the Trump administration to issue a vaping flavor ban in an effort to curb teenage use.
The ban covered flavors that critics argued targeted children — like fruit, mint and candy flavors — but allowed menthol and tobacco flavors to remain legal. The ban only applied to cartridges or pre-filled pod devices, like the ones sold by Juul, not disposable e-cigarettes. Some critics argued the move wasn’t enough.
“You’ve got to get rid of all the flavors. Secondly, you have to make sure that disposable cigarettes are subject to the same flavor ban that all other products are subject to — and then third, we have to regulate the nicotine content,” said Krishnamoorthi. “These vapes that are currently on the market are so addictive.”
June 23, 2021
University to Study Impact of Flavor Restriction Policies
Policies that restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, e-liquids and other tobacco products including menthol cigarettes impact health disparities among vulnerable populations is the subject for a new study to be conducted by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. The five-year, $2.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will support the study on how local policies impact at-risk groups — including communities of color, low-income populations and youth — that are more likely to use flavored tobacco products.
Credit: Wolterke
The results could help lawmakers create policies that are more equitable, says the study’s principal investigator Shyanika Rose, Ph.D., a faculty member of the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET), assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Science and member of the Markey Cancer Center Cancer Prevention and Control Program. “We already know that stopping the sale of these products can reduce their availability and use in these communities,” said Rose. “But understanding the impact of policies across race and socioeconomic status will give guidance about what kinds of policies work and have the most equitable benefits.”
Rose says flavored tobacco (including vaporizers and e-cigarettes) products, which are more appealing, easier to use and more addictive, have a long history of being disproportionately marketed toward vulnerable communities, particularly African Americans. Currently, federal laws only prohibit the sale of certain flavored tobacco products.
The sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavors of smokeless tobacco, cigars and hookah is still permitted. While the Food and Drug Administration recently announced new steps to implement a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, the proposal will not eliminate all flavored tobacco products from the market, specifically flavored e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
“While the FDA is moving federal policy in the right direction, comprehensive policies that restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products may be more likely to protect the health of the most vulnerable populations and this is something this project will investigate,” Rose said.
June 23, 2021
UAE Vapor Retailer Calls for More Industry Support

Credit: Adobe Photo
A leading vapor retailer in the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) says the industry must do more to support official government efforts aimed at blocking trade in counterfeit and unregulated e-cigarettes and preventing sales to minors. The sale of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and e-liquids has been legal in the UAE since April 2019 under mandatory regulations laid down by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA).
But one of the UAE’s most prominent vape retailers, My Vapery, says dealers should work together to support official efforts aimed at preventing potential health threats, and keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of under-21-year olds. The company wants to work with the organizers of the first World Vape Show taking place in Dubai in September to help the industry self-regulate, and spotlight vaping as a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking, leading to improved public health.
Atif Amin, marketing manager, My Vapery
“As retailers, we must all place a bigger emphasis on supporting ESMA and the Police in their efforts to stop the random circulation of counterfeit and unregulated vaping products which can pose health threats,” said the company’s marketing manager, Atif Amin. “It’s vital that we work together closely to prevent e-cigarettes from being sold to underage consumers. The arrival of a new industry platform in Dubai gives us a perfect chance to educate the industry on the standards needed to provide greater consumer protection.”
Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 19-21 September, the World Vape Show connects manufacturers, retailers, public health professionals and vape enthusiasts from around the world. The combined exhibition and conference will showcase new vaping technology and the range of regulated products now meeting the demand for safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
“It’s encouraging to see a leading retailer taking the initiative to set standards for the industry in this way, and create a key area for discussion at the event,” said Jake Nixon, event manager, World Vape Show, Quartz Business Media. “The show is an important platform allowing the industry to analyze itself and the major issues it faces, and to educate manufacturers, retailers and vapers on the importance of safety and the need for strong regulations, and more research, to protect consumers.”
June 23, 2021
Connecticut Governor Signs Legal Marijuana Bill
The governor of Connecticut on Tuesday signed a bill to legalize marijuana—making it the 19th state to enact the reform. Last week, Gov. Ned Lamont threatened a veto over language on equity licensing that had been added, prompting legislators to revise it.
Credit: Spyrakot
“For decades, the war on cannabis caused injustices and created disparities while doing little to protect public health and safety,” Lamont said in a press release. “The law that I signed today begins to right some of those wrongs by creating a comprehensive framework for a regulated market that prioritizes public health, public safety, criminal justice and equity. It will help eliminate the dangerous, unregulated market and support a new and equitable sector of our economy that will create jobs.”
Connecticut is the fourth state to legalize cannabis for adult use this year alone, following New York, Virginia and New Mexico. Possession of cannabis among adults age 21 and over will be legal in Connecticut beginning July 1, 2021. Adults cannot have more than 1.5 ounces of cannabis on their person, and no more than 5 ounces in their homes or locked in their car truck or glove box.
Retail sales of cannabis aim to begin in Connecticut by the end of 2022. The sale, manufacture, and cultivation of cannabis (aside from home grow) requires a license from the state. Products that contain delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, or delta-10-THC are considered cannabis and may only be sold by licensed retailers. Individuals who are not licensed by the state may gift cannabis to others but may not sell it. Individuals may not gift cannabis to another individual who has “paid” or “donated” for another product.
Certain cannabis-related convictions that occurred between January 1, 2000 and October 1, 2015 will be automatically erased. Those seeking to erase cannabis-related convictions outside of that period will require petitioning. The law enacts a tax rate structure on the retail sale of cannabis that includes a new source of revenue for municipalities.
This includes (1) a 3% municipal sales tax, which will be directed to the town or city where the retail sale occurred; (2) the 6.35% state sales tax; and (3) a tax based on the THC content of the product, which will be 2.75 cents per milligram of THC for cannabis edibles; 0.625 cents per milligram of THC for cannabis flower; and 0.9 cents per milligram of THC for all other product types. This means that Connecticut generally will have about a 4% lower tax rate than New York and about the same as Massachusetts.
“The states surrounding us already, or soon will, have legal adult-use markets. By allowing adults to possess cannabis, regulating its sale and content, training police officers in the latest techniques of detecting and preventing impaired driving, and expunging the criminal records of people with certain cannabis crimes, we’re not only effectively modernizing our laws and addressing inequities, we’re keeping Connecticut economically competitive,” Lamont said. “This legislation directs significant new funding to prevention and recovery services, which will be used to help prevent cannabis use by minors and to promote safe, healthy use of cannabis by those of legal age.”
Cannabis use is prohibited in state parks, state beaches, and on state waters.
June 23, 2021