Tag: news

New York Poised to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
State lawmakers in New York have agreed to legalize marijuana for recreational use in a late-night session. The move positions the state to join at least 14 other states already allowing residents to buy marijuana for recreational and not just medical use. New York’s past efforts to pass marijuana legalization have failed in recent years.
Credit: Terre di Cannabis
“My goal in carrying this legislation has always been to end the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana prohibition that has taken such a toll on communities of color across our state, and to use the economic windfall of legalization to help heal and repair those same communities,” Sen. Liz Krueger, Senate sponsor of the bill and chair of the Senate’s finance committee, said.
Democrats who now wield a veto-proof majority in the state Legislature that made passing the bill a priority this year, and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration has estimated legalization could eventually bring the state about $350 million annually, according to a story in the Associated Press. Cuomo has pointed to growing acceptance of legalization in the Northeast, including in Massachusetts, Maine and most recently, New Jersey.
The legislation would allow recreational marijuana sales to adults over the age of 21, and set up a licensing process for the delivery of cannabis products to customers. Individual New Yorkers could grow up to three mature and three immature plants for personal consumption, and local governments could opt out of retail sales. The bill also sets aside revenues to cover the costs of everything from regulating marijuana, to substance abuse prevention, according to the AP.
The legislation would take effect immediately if passed, though sales wouldn’t start until New York sets up rules and a proposed cannabis board, according to the AP. Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes estimated Friday it could take 18 months to two years for sales to start.
New York would set a 9% sales tax on cannabis, plus an additional 4% tax split between the county and local government. It would also impose an additional tax based on the level of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, ranging from 0.5 cents per milligram for flower to 3 cents per milligram for edibles.
New York would eliminate penalties for possession of less than three ounces of cannabis, and automatically expunge records of people with past convictions for marijuana-related offenses that would no longer be criminalized, according to the AP. That’s a step beyond a 2019 law that expunged many past convictions for marijuana possession and reduced the penalty for possessing small amounts.
The bill allows cities, towns and villages to opt out of allowing adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries or on-site consumption licenses by passing a local law by Dec. 31, 2021 or nine months after the effective date of the legislation. They cannot opt out of legalization.
March 28, 2021
No. 70: The FDA Issues Vintage Vapors PMTA Warning Letter
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its 70th warning letter this year to a company the regulatory agency says is violating marketing rules. Vintage Vapors received the letter on March 22 and the FDA posted the information on its website on March 25.
The FDA states that it determined the company did “manufacture, sell, and/or distribute to customers in the United States Vintage Vapors Unflavored Tobacco 03MG 30/70 e-liquid product without a marketing authorization order.” Premarket tobacco product applications (PMTA) were due to be submitted to the FDA by Sept. 9, 2020.
The FDA also states that “the violations discussed in this letter do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list” and companies should quickly address any products that violate the same rules as the product mentioned in the letter. “Your firm is a registered manufacturer with 1,433 products listed with FDA. It is your responsibility to ensure that your tobacco products comply with each applicable provision of the FD&C Act and FDA’s implementing regulations,” the letter states.
Companies that receive warning letters from the FDA have to submit a written response to the letter within 15 working days from the date of receipt describing the company’s corrective actions, including the dates on which it discontinued the violative sale, and/or distribution of the products. They also require the company’s plan for maintaining compliance with the FD&C Act in the future.
March 28, 2021
Major Majority of Malaysians Want Vaping Regulations
A large majority of Malaysians want the government to regulate the vaping industry more heavily, according to a recent survey. The Malaysian Insights & Perspectives on Vape survey, commissioned by the Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy (MVIA), showed that 87 percent Malaysians agree that a tax should be imposed on vaping products and 74 percent think that the revenue collected from vape products could be spent by the government on important sectors such as education.
Credit: Peter Nguyen
The survey also revealed that 76 percent of those polled think the country’s economy will benefit from such regulations, according to an article in the Malay Mail. A sample size of 1,025 Malaysian adults were polled and “is reflective of the perception of all Malaysian adults nationwide.” Conducted by Green Zebras, a market research company, the survey was commissioned to get a better understanding of Malaysians’ perception on vaping and its use as a method of tobacco harm reduction, according to the MVIA.
“The opinion poll shows most Malaysians want regulations on vape products. Official reports from the Ministry of Health indicate that there are over one million vapers in Malaysia and yet there are no regulations in place, leaving consumers no choice but to use unregulated products,” said Rizani Zakaria, president of MVIA. “Recent reports from local industry groups have already confirmed that the vape industry has significant potential to contribute to the Malaysian economy with capabilities to create jobs, develop existing businesses and SMEs within the industry, and attract investments. This is a fact that cannot be ignored, and the government must act quickly to introduce regulations on vape products.”
March 26, 2021
Judge: ‘No Party Shall Vape’ During Juul Labs Depositions
A California magistrate judge said vaping would be off-limits during upcoming depositions in multidistrict litigation against Juul labs. The suits allege that the e-cigarette manufacturer intentionally marketed product to teens, according to law360.com. Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley wrote that the court “confirms that no party shall vape during deposition questioning.” She added that individuals who vape can take however many breaks as they need. “These breaks shall not count against the presumptive seven-hour deposition limit.”
Credit: Insurance Journal
The actions include putative class actions, actions on behalf of school districts and other governmental entities, and individual personal injury cases. The lawsuits allege that Juul Labs “marketed its JUUL nicotine delivery products in a manner designed to attract minors, that [Juul Labs] marketing misrepresents or omits that JUUL products are more potent and addictive than cigarettes, that JUUL products are defective and unreasonably dangerous due to their attractiveness to minors, and that [Juul Labs] promotes nicotine addiction.”
North Carolina was the first state to sue Juul over accusations that it targets underage youths with its products. Most specifically, the NC Attorney General’s office accuses Juul of violating the state’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
March 26, 2021
Study: Fourth-Generation Atomizers Not Harmless

Credit: Gianluca Rasile / Dreamstime.com
Fourth-generation electronic cigarette pod atomizer are similar in design to those of previous generations and contain elements that may adversely affect health and accumulate in the environment, according to a new study by the University of California, Riverside.
According to the researchers, chronic exposure to the elements/metals in atomizers could adversely affect human health. Further, e-cigarette pod products, which eventually enter the environment, could contribute to chemical pollution in water and soil.
“The more these devices aesthetically evolve, the more the atomizer components and elemental composition stay the same,” said Esther Omaiye, a graduate student in Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology at UC Riverside and the first author of the research paper that appeared in PLOS ONE, in statement.
“While major components such as filaments, thick wires, filament-wire joints, air-tubes and wicks have been preserved across generations, we see newer components in fourth-generation pod products such as connector pins, connector-wire joints, ceramic wicks and chambers that house these wicks.”
The more these devices aesthetically evolve, the more the atomizer components and elemental composition stay the same.
Esther Omaiye, UC Riverside
“We set out to characterize the design features of pod-style atomizers and analyze the elemental composition of the atomizers,” said Prue Talbot, a professor of cell biology at UCR, who led the research team. “These elements may, upon heating, enter the aerosol and be inhaled by users.”
The external appearance, design, battery power, atomizers, and nicotine delivery of e-cigarettes have evolved over the last decade. Fourth-generation pods have low-powered batteries, an e-liquid reservoir and an atomizer/mouthpiece. According to the researchers, they contain high concentrations of nicotine and acid.
Scientists have only limited understanding of what exactly makes up pod atomizers, which are required components for aerosol production in e-cigarettes.
“Since elements in the atomizers can leach into the e-fluids or transfer to the aerosols when the e-fluids are heated, it is important to know what these elements are that users can get exposed to,” said Omaiye, who works in Talbot’s lab.
The researchers examined 11 fourth-generation pods from six brands/manufacturers. Of 23 elements they identified in the pod atomizers, 11—nickel, chromium, iron, gold, copper, zinc, tin, oxygen, silicon, carbon and sodium—were present in relatively high abundance. Some of these elements have been linked to human illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, immune system suppression, lung injury, cancer, renal damage, neurotoxicity and silicosis. Nickel, chromium, iron and gold were found to be the most abundant elements in fourth-generation atomizers.
“We now know what elements users may be inhaling by using fourth-generation products,” Omaiye said. “Our work reinforces the idea that e-cigarettes are not without harm. Our next line of research is evaluating fluids and aerosols generated from fourth-generation products to get a clearer picture of how their elements may be directly affecting e-cigarette users’ health.”
March 26, 2021
Intertabac Show Cancelled for Second Straight Year
The Intertabac and Intersupply 2021 trade shows, the largest combined vaping and other tobacco product industry events, will not take place due to the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Billed as the world’s largest tobacco trade show, the event was scheduled to take place Sept. 16-18, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe, the owner of the Intertabac show, announced today that the event is cancelled after talking with exhibitors and sponsors.
“Working closely with the industry associations and partner associations, the conceptual sponsors, the advisory board and the exhibitors of the twin fairs, it has become clear that the vast majority is against holding the events this September, as previously announced,” said Sabine Loos, managing director for Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe, in a statement.
Intertabac showcases nearly every product that is associated with consuming nicotine, from vaping products and combustible cigarettes to machine-made and premium cigars, pipes, shisha, smokeless and other tobacco-related products. In 2019, 13,800 people attended the event which had over 500 exhibitors from 47 countries according to Intertabac.
Last year’s event was also cancelled. The dates for Intertabac 2022 is scheduled for Sept. 15-17, 2022, according to Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe .
March 25, 2021
Prospect of Vapor Regulations Boost China Tobacco Stocks

Photo: Shenzhen Smoore Technology
Chinese stocks related to the traditional tobacco business rose following suggestions that China would regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco products.
Cigarette packaging provider Letong Chemical and cigarette printing and filter maker Shaanxi Jinye Sci Tech & Education surged by the daily cap of 10 percent, according to the South China Morning Post.
By contrast, vapor companies tanked. Smoore lost HKD106 billion in market cap while RELX Technology shed $14.45 billion on the New York Stock Exchange immediately after the announcement.
On March 22, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration released a proposed policy that aims to address tobacco product quality issues and false advertising. Without providing details, the agencies indicated that the changes would also apply to vapor products. The changes are currently subject to a public consultation that ends April 22.
Having taken arduous and often herculean steps to remain compliant with all government regulations, Kaival Brands and the leadership at Bidi Vapor hope that additional supervision of e-cigarette manufacturing will help raise standards for the devices worldwide.
Kaival Innovations Group
With around 300 million smokers, China is the world’s largest tobacco market and the world’s largest potential market for vapor products. iiMedia Research estimates that the Chinese e-cigarette market could reach CNY10 billion ($1.53 billion) in 2021. There were more than 170,000 vapor companies as of February 2021. The market is also expected to grow in the future year.
In 2019, Chinese authorities banned e-cigarettes from online shopping channels. The restrictions prompted e-cigarette companies to invest significantly in developing physical stores across the country. RELX Technology, for example, received 30 percent of its revenues from online sales prior to the ban. In January 2020, the company pledged to invest more than CNY500 million over the three years to open 10,000 authorized sellers in China.
Some vapor companies welcomed the prospect of greater supervision over the e-cigarette sector in China. U.S.-headquartered Kaival Innovations Group, which distributes the Bidi Stick brand, said the announcement would have no effect on its operations.
“Having taken arduous and often herculean steps to remain compliant with all government regulations, Kaival Brands and the leadership at Bidi Vapor hope that additional supervision of e-cigarette manufacturing [in China] will help raise standards for the devices worldwide,” the company wrote in a press release.
March 25, 2021
U.S. Senate Confirms Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General

Photo: forcal35 from Pixabay
Vivek H. Murthy
The U.S. Senate on March 23 confirmed Vivek H. Murthy as United States surgeon general, reports The Washington Post.
The surgeon general, also known as the “nation’s doctor,” typically serves as a prominent spokesperson on public health issues but has a limited role in policymaking. President Joe Biden wants him to be a key public voice on the Covid response to restore public trust in medicine.
The surgeon general also oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed service of about 6,000 public health workers who have helped staff the coronavirus response and administer vaccines but struggled earlier this year to get vaccinations of their own.
Murthy first served as surgeon general during the Obama administration, working on public health issues such as the opioid crisis. He also pursued his own work combating loneliness and the stigma of mental illness. He was the nation’s first Senate-confirmed Asian American surgeon general.
His original 2013 nomination was stalled in the Senate for more than a year, in part because gun rights organizations faulted Murthy for saying gun violence was a public health problem—a stance Murthy has continued to espouse.
Murthy is an advocate of e-cigarette regulation. In 2016, he released “E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults,” calling for action to reduce the use of vapor products among young people.
Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, at the time described the report as scientifically dishonest.
Siegel said the report essentially lied about the single most important fact that the public needed to understand about electronic cigarettes and vaping products: that they do not contain tobacco and therefore vaping is not a form of tobacco use.
March 25, 2021
Connecticut Could Ban Flavored Vapes by October
A bill winding its way through the Connecticut General Assembly would ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and tobacco products in the state. Lawmakers who sponsored the bill say the bill is needed to reduce nicotine addiction, which disproportionately affects young adults and people of color.
Credit: Ethan Parsa
The ban would target vape products with fruit and dessert flavors, while allowing for tobacco flavored vapes. The bill would also prevent the sale of all menthol flavored products. “For many years I have watched my community suffer from the long-standing results of having this habit of smoking that they can’t seem to break; and we watch them suffer and lose their lives,” NAACP Bridgeport Chapter President Rev. D. Stanley Lord said during a press conference, as reported by wshu.com. “Families lose loved one’s because they have targeted the Black and Brown community.”
Critics say that the ban would drive former smokers back to combustible cigarettes. Traditional tobacco use is a major contributor to heart disease, cancer and strokes, which are the three leading causes of death among African Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bill advanced from the state’s public health committee to the full Legislature on March 5. Senate Committee Chair Mary Daugherty Abrams said during the press conference that she thinks that there is a “strong” chance that the bill passes through the legislature. If the bill is enacted, the ban would go into effect in October.
“I don’t think we here at the state of Connecticut can wait indefinitely for the federal government to take action,” Steinberg said. “So we’re following through, on what we promised we would do, which would be to end flavors which we view as an unfortunate temptation into the world of addiction.”
March 25, 2021
43 Lawmakers Pen Letter to FDA Supporting Flavor Ban
Lawmakers in the US House of representatives have sent a letter to the head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agency to pull all flavored e-cigarettes and other vaping products from the market. The 43 House Democrats sent the letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock as the agency continues to review thousands of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs).
Credit: Office of Debbie Wasserman Schultz
“Flavored e-cigarettes are putting a new generation of kids at risk of nicotine addiction and the serious health harms that result from tobacco use,” states the letter drafted by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), according to The Hill.
The lawmakers want the FDA to ban all flavored e-cigarettes upon further review and nix the exemption the FDA has for menthol and disposable products.
Along with a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, lawmakers want a ban on premarket tobacco applications and the marketing of e-cigarettes that target minors. “Today, e-cigarette use by youth remains at what FDA calls ‘epidemic proportions’ and e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco products among youth since 2014 – and flavors are a key reason why,” the letter states.
The FDA has already put a ban on fruity e-cigarettes, however, brands such as Puff Bar are sidestepping the ban by selling fruit-flavored disposable vaporizers that use synthetic (tobacco-free) nicotine. “We strongly recommend that FDA’s premarket review process require manufacturers to provide convincing evidence that their products do not increase youth use of nicotine and tobacco in ways that increase the risk of abuse and addiction among youth,” the lawmakers stated.
March 25, 2021