Vapor Voice

Tag: regulation

  • U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference

    U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference

    Credit: Sean Pavone Photo

    On Friday, June 28, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 in favor of overturning the “Chevron deference,” a backbone principle for how the federal government keeps corporations in check. Chevron is the practice by which federal courts defer to federal agencies when sorting out ambiguities in a law. Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor dissented.

    The ruling could impact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its process for authorizing vaping products through the premarket tobacco product authorization process. In practice, Chevron deference often gives agencies broad leeway to reach beyond the limits of a statute’s plain language, often bypassing the rulemaking process otherwise required under the Administrative Procedure Act and making it more difficult to challenge an agency action in court.

    Chris Howard, executive vice president, External Affairs & New Product Compliance for Swisher, said that for decades federal agencies have had too much power.

    “That ended today with the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the long-standing Chevron Doctrine. The decision marks a significant shift in the judicial landscape, correcting the balance of power between federal agencies and the judiciary,” said Howard. “It fundamentally alters how courts rule on agency statutory interpretation. As the majority states, courts will no longer be restrained by the need to provide deference.

    “Instead, ‘Courts must exercise their inde­pendent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, as the APA requires.’ This transformation will likely lead to significantly less regulatory flexibility and increased judicial scrutiny. The implications of this decision will resonate across industries, including the tobacco industry, influencing regulatory practices and shaping the future of administrative law. Regulatory overreach will become the exception as opposed to the norm and enable courts to fulfill their duty to interpret the law.”

    In the years since electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) became subject to FDA regulation, the vast majority of courts reviewing ENDS industry challenges to premarket application denials, as well as FDA rulemakings and guidance documents, have rubber-stamped the agency’s interpretation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA) and the “appropriate for the protection of the public health” standard.

    Critics contend that the Chevron deference has enabled the FDA to impermissibly interpret the TCA to implement a de facto ban on all nontobacco-flavored ENDS products without any requisite notice and comment rulemaking or congressional amendments to the TCA.

    “For far too long, unelected bureaucrats at the FDA have been making up the law to suit their own ulterior agenda and Today, the Supreme Court has thankfully put a stop to it once and for all,” said Allison Boughner, vice president of the American Vapor Manufacturers Association. “No longer will it be good enough for prohibitionists in Congress to write vague, Crayola language and then connive behind closed doors with FDA to impose arbitrary policies on the American public that could never withstand the light of day.”

    It has been nearly 40 years since the Supreme Court indicated in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council that courts should defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute.

    The court’s ruling could have ripple effects across the federal government, where agencies frequently use highly trained experts to interpret and implement federal laws, according to SCOTUSblog. Although the doctrine was relatively noncontroversial when it was first introduced in 1984, in recent years conservatives – including some members of the Supreme Court – have called for it to be overturned.

    The plea to overturn the Chevron doctrine came to the court in two cases challenging a rule, issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service, that requires the herring industry to bear the costs of observers on fishing boats. Applying Chevron, both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld the rule, finding it to be a reasonable interpretation of federal law.

    The fishing companies came to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to weigh in on the rule itself but also to overrule Chevron. Roman Martinez, representing one group of fishing vessels, told the justices that the Chevron doctrine undermines the duty of courts to say what the law is and violates the federal law governing administrative agencies, which similarly requires courts to undertake a fresh review of legal questions.

    Under the Chevron doctrine, he observed, even if all nine Supreme Court justices agree that the fishing vessels’ interpretation of federal fishing law is better than the NMFS’s interpretation, they would still be required to defer to the agency’s interpretation as long as it was reasonable. Such a result, Martinez concluded, is “not consistent with the rule of law.”

  • North Carolina Lawmakers Pass Vape Registry Bill

    North Carolina Lawmakers Pass Vape Registry Bill

    North Carolina Capitol Building in Raleigh (Credit: PaBrady 63)

    The North Carolina General Assembly has passed legislation to create a registry for vaping products, allowing for the sale of only a limited number of products.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the proposal last week, and it advanced through its final committee stop Thursday, setting it up for a vote on the Senate floor. The proposal was added to HB 900, which deals with Wake County leadership academies.

    The new rules go into effect Dec. 1. Critics—including owners of vape stores and convenience stores that sell vaping products—say they could harm their bottom lines and potentially put them out of business.

    State lawmakers who support the bill cite health concerns and fears that vaping products are being marketed toward children using bright colors and sweet, candy-like flavors.

  • Burton: Menthol Marketing Orders a ‘Significant Step’

    Burton: Menthol Marketing Orders a ‘Significant Step’

    By Robert Burton

    Vapes are a powerful tool for adult smokers making the transition from cigarettes to reduced-risk products (RRP). The category is governed by market-specific regulation, often influencing public perception and, therefore, uptake.

    Last week, following an extensive scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of four menthol-flavored e-cigarette products for Altria-owned vaping company Njoy. This is a watershed moment for the sector and one which will have a huge and significant impact on the global RRP market.

    This announcement signifies the FDA’s acknowledgment that menthol vaping products have the potential to be an important and effective tool for adult smokers looking for reduced-risk alternatives. This is significant for the wider sector in a number of ways; above all, it sets a precedent for other markets, paving the way for other regulators, particularly those looking at bans, to consider flavors in the context of public health.

    Across the globe, we are seeing an increasing number of markets introduce bans on flavors on a precautionary basis in a bid to mitigate youth uptake. At Plxsur, we have long advocated against the ban of flavors on vape products, arguing that it has the potential to negatively impact those making the transition from conventional cigarettes, who often are drawn to vapes for their flavor, amongst other factors such as price and convenience. There are also arguments and emerging evidence that flavor bans drive the black market sale of unregulated, dangerous products.

    There will be many that, understandably, say this decision is “too little, too late,” but it is nonetheless encouraging to see the FDA, with its extensive science and evidence-based review, validating that with effective regulation and enforcement, flavored vape products are “in the interest of public health.” Those countries that have considered flavor bans should look to the U.S. and conclude that it can’t be justified from a scientific review perspective.

    While this is the first authorization of a “characterizing flavor” by the FDA for vaping products, two of the major regulatory influencing bodies, the FDA and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), now acknowledge that there is value in non-tobacco-flavored vaping products.

    This decision has the potential to impact the world. The U.S. has long influenced international markets, so it sets a benchmark that we expect other, less vape-supportive governments and regulatory bodies will follow.  

    Rob Burton

    In Italy, tobacco-flavored vapes constitute 40% of the vape market, while menthol represents 21%.[1] This demonstrates the significance of flavored products in the market as a whole. If such flavors were to be banned, this would act as a barrier for smokers to move to reduced-risk alternatives and potentially lead vapers to return to cigarettes.

    In some geographies, it is great to see that vapes are being accepted as an effective alternative to conventional cigarettes, even this week’s news from Australia announcing that vapes – which until now have only been available through prescription – will soon be available for sale within pharmacies without the need for a prescription, offering an effective pathway to end the smoking epidemic in the country.

    As we anticipate the potential revision of the Tobacco Product Directive Review next year, the justification for banning flavors, from a scientific point of view, simply isn’t there. In the case of Njoy, this has been shown through closed-system pod-based devices, which offer a more cost-effective avenue for existing smokers and disposable systems while incorporating child lock systems that will restrict access to children, as is already applied by a Plxsur company, ProVape, in its SALT and KUBIK brands.

    While the FDA’s authorization is specific to these four products made and sold by Njoy and does not apply to any other menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, our expectation is this will open a channel for other such products to achieve authorization by providing the necessary framework and the potential for knowledge-sharing and guidance. With the weight of data-led evidence, the category can advocate for the democratization of this framework, enabling further regulatory authorizations for products produced by responsible vaping companies in the interest of the adult smoker.  

    At Plxsur, we have a clear purpose – to facilitate adult smokers to make positive health decisions by transitioning away from cigarettes to reduced-risk products. Flavor is a key factor in supporting smokers moving completely to such alternatives, and we look forward to seeing a more science and data-led approach being adopted across all markets as we work to save the lives of those impacted by smoking, mitigate the risk of youth uptake, and do so sustainably and responsibly.

    We view this FDA decision as a significant step forward in broadening the pathway for adult smokers, and previously lacking “off-ramp” for U.S. menthol smokers looking to make the switch, which, according to Public Health England, is 95% less harmful and, therefore, undeniably, “in the interest of public health.”[2]

    Robert Burton is Group Scientific and Regulatory director for Plxsur.

    [1] The Global Vaping Market: A Plxsur Snapshot

    [2] E-cigarettes: an evidence update: A report commissioned by Public Health England

  • Australia Softens Stance on Vaping Product Ban

    Australia Softens Stance on Vaping Product Ban

    Credit: Yavdat

    Australia will soften a proposed groundbreaking ban on vaping following opposition from the Greens party, leading the government to agree to revise a bill that would have limited vapes to those with a doctor’s prescription.

    The agreement between the ruling center-left Labor party and the Greens will lead to the passage of legislation later this week that restricts the sale of vapes to pharmacies and removes them from retail shelves. This move is aimed at curbing the rise in youth vaping.

    However, the bill falls short of the government’s initial ambition to restrict sales only to those with a doctor’s prescription, which would have been a world-first. The amended bill will take effect on 1 July, reports Reuters.

    Under the compromise deal, vapes will be moved “behind the counter” in October. Customers will need to have a conversation with the pharmacist before making a purchase, and under-18s will need a prescription.

    Health Minister Mark Butler said in a statement that the government “welcomed constructive engagement with the crossbench and secured the support of The Greens for our world-leading vaping laws.”

    The Labor party does not have a majority in the upper house and must negotiate with other parties and independent senators to pass legislation.

  • FDA Authorizes First Flavored Vape: NJOY Menthol

    FDA Authorizes First Flavored Vape: NJOY Menthol

    Image: Tada Images

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today authorized four NJOY products through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway. The FDA issued marketing granted orders to NJOY, an Altria subsidiary, for two pods for its Ace closed e-cigarette device, which was authorized in April of 2022, and two disposable e-cigarettes—NJOY DAILY Menthol 4.5%, and NJOY DAILY EXTRA Menthol 2.4%.

    The two authorized ACE pods are the NJOY ACE Pod Menthol 2.4% and the NJOY ACE Pod Menthol 5%.  All four of the newly authorized products are pre-filled and non-refillable.

    The decision is significant because it is the first non-tobacco flavored vapor product to be authorized by the FDA. In his TPL Review, Office of Science Director Matthew Farrelly said that NJOY had “demonstrated the potential for these new products to benefit adults who smoke [combustible cigarettes] as compared to those who continue to use [combustible cigarettes] exclusively,” and that the company had “also proposed robust marketing plans that include restrictions beyond those required with PMTA authorization.” Farrelly also highlighted data from a longitudinal cohort study that NJOY submitted with its application, which pointed to “robust absolute switching rates” as well as a higher rate of complete switching than tobacco-flavored NJOY DAILY ENDS.

    The FDA noted, however, that applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and that this authorization of menthol products does not apply to any other menthol-flavored vaping products.

    “It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary evidence to obtain marketing authorization, and the FDA has made clear what’s needed to successfully achieve that outcome,” said CTP Director Brian King in the agency’s press release. “This action is further reinforcement that authorization of an e-cigarette product is possible when sufficient scientific evidence has been submitted to the agency to justify it.”    

    Altria welcomed the authorizations. “With the addition of NJOY menthol e-vapor products, we are now uniquely positioned with an FDA-authorized portfolio to support adult smokers in their transition to smoke-free alternatives. We believe these marketing orders are a testament to the quality of the NJOY products and the strength of evidence supporting the authorizations of the NJOY menthol e-vapor products,” said NJOY President and CEO Shannon Leistra in a statement.

    “We believe that, for tobacco harm reduction to succeed, adult smokers must have access to a robust marketplace of FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives,” said Paige Magness, senior vice president, regulatory affairs of Altria Client Services. “FDA authorization of NJOY menthol e-vapor products provides adult smokers and vapers with regulated alternatives to the illicit flavored disposable e-vapor products on the market today. We believe the NJOY menthol marketing orders are a positive outcome for public health.”

    The FDA previously authorized the NJOY Ace and three of its tobacco-flavored pods on April 27, 2022.  In March of 2023, Altria acquired NJOY for $2.75 billion cash.  The acquisition was completed on June 1, 2023.  However, the transaction terms included $500 million in additional cash payments contingent upon the product approvals received today, which would bring Altria’s total spend to $3.25 billion.

  • North Carolina to Vote on Vape Registry Law

    North Carolina to Vote on Vape Registry Law

    Credit: Katherine Welles

    A new bill in North Carolina, if passed, would require the state to certify vaping and other next-generation tobacco products for sale.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the proposal Wednesday. It was slipped into HB 900, which deals with Wake County leadership academies and their ability to maintain state designations. The House passed it without objection.

    To become law, the bill would need to pass the Senate and then the House before the end of the session. Senate leaders have said they plan to complete their work by the end of the month, local media reports.

    The chambers, both controlled by Republicans, have been unable to come to an agreement on budget modifications for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

    A North Carolina lawmaker wrongly told others that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the products, but the regulatory agency does not have the ability to check which products are being sold.

    The bill would fine retailers who sell products that aren’t on the registry for initial violations. The legislation could also suspend or revoke the establishment’s license.

    Vaping industry representatives warned lawmakers that the bill will cost people jobs and money.

    PMTA registry laws are already being enforced in Alabama, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Wisconsin passed a registry law in December and will become effective July 1, 2025. 

    Utah also passed a registry bill that included a flavor ban that will become active on Jan. 1, 2025, and Florida has a unique registry that also begins Jan. 1, 2025.

  • Havoc in Hemp

    Havoc in Hemp

    Credit: OceanProd

    The proposed Miller Amendment was designed to kill the hemp cannabinoid industry.

    By Rod Kight

    As everyone reading this article likely knows, the Miller Amendment unexpectedly passed a bloc vote in the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture on May 23. In a last-minute turn of events, chairman Glenn Thompson ordered an “en bloc” vote on all amendments rather than voting on them individually.

    This was presumably done because he knew that he did not have enough votes to pass the Miller Amendment on its own. Unfortunately, the tactic worked. This is especially frustrating given that the chairman has previously expressed interest in retaining the current definition of “hemp” for the next farm bill. 

    It is not an exaggeration to say that the Miller Amendment was specifically designed to kill the hemp cannabinoid industry. This is because the Miller Amendment:

    • changes the definition of “hemp” so that total THC must not exceed 0.3 percent;
    • expressly excludes viable seeds from a marijuana plant from the definition of “hemp” even though they contain almost no THC and the DEA itself considers them to be hemp;
    • expressly excludes cannabinoids that the plant produces but which are synthesized or manufactured outside the plant from the definition of “hemp” even if they are produced using cGMP or other internationally accepted quality control standards and are identical to the naturally occurring ones; and
    • expressly excludes “quantifiable amounts” of THC, including THCa, and “any other cannabinoids that have similar effects (or which are marketed to have similar effects) on humans or animals as THC” from the definition of “hemp.”

    Taken together, these provisions of the Miller Amendment strike a deadly blow to the entire hemp cannabinoid industry. If enacted into law, the hemp industry as we know it will no longer exist. If you read the provisions carefully, it should be clear that the Miller Amendment was not written by a hack or even someone who is simply concerned about so-called “intoxicating cannabinoids.”

    This amendment was written by insiders with a very specific agenda. Presently, the author is not known to me. Still, this policy has been the subject of a major lobbying push by a select group of major marijuana organizations to erase the hemp industry. 

    Chris Roberts, writing for MJBizDaily, reported that the“U.S. Cannabis Council—members of which include many multistate marijuana operators—circulated a letter asking lawmakers to exclude from the new Farm Bill any hemp-derived product with ‘detectable quantities of total THC and any other intoxicant that can be derived from hemp, including other forms of THC.’”

    The U.S. Cannabis Council is not the only villain in the war against hemp, but its members include some of the worst actors. It and its members actively advocate for cannabis policy that:

    • promotes the interests of a small handful of large corporate marijuana companies (i.e., marijuana monopolists) over the interests of small businesses;
    • advocates for limited licensure and vertical integration;
    • uses repurposed “Reefer Madness” fearmongering tactics about cannabis intoxication to further its cause; and
    • has initiated a “total war” against hemp with the express goal of completely destroying the hemp cannabinoid industry in what amounts to a bloody turf war.
    Rod Kight

    For anyone who did not previously believe that last point about Big Marijuana’s “total war” against hemp or who has ever asked “why can’t we all just get along?,” today’s congressional shenanigans should be ample proof of Big Marijuana’s end goal of completely eradicating the hemp industry. The Big Marijuana lobby and the monopolistic corporations it serves are willing to resort to backhanded political tactics and otherwise go the distance to take over the cannabis industry to the complete exclusion of the hemp sector. It is time to unite and fight back. This is our rallying cry: Hemp is cannabis. What is good for the hemp industry is good for the cannabis industry. 

    As I discussed in a recent keynote speech at Noco, the hemp industry is emerging as the paradigm for the future of cannabis. By defeating the Big Marijuana monopolists and promoting reasonable laws/regulations, such as the three-pillar approach (see below), we have an opportunity to rewrite the cannabis story and to create an industry where small businesses and farmers can thrive and consumers have access to a wide array of safe cannabis products through a variety of distribution channels.

    Rather than focusing on cannabis intoxication, vertical integration, expensive licensing, prohibiting home-grow, a zero-sum turf war or any other such nonsense, the three-pillar approach addresses three reasonable regulatory “zones” for consumer safety and a healthy industry: (1) age gating, (2) quality control for production and manufacturing, and (3) standardized and informative labeling and marketing. Read/listen to more on the three pillars here. I welcome your input.

    Fortunately, a lot of marijuana companies are beginning to see the “hemp light.” I regularly receive calls from marijuana companies who have decided to pivot to the hemp industry as the path forward for their businesses. They see hemp as a commonsense solution, not a “loophole,” and want assistance making the journey. Hemp is the great uniter, and we welcome anyone who believes in fair play, reasonable regulations and a healthy cannabis economy. 

    Here are some suggestions on how to join the fight and help hemp win the war against oppressive monopolistic interests:

    • Call your federal lawmakers today and let them know that you support hemp. Tell them to “vote no” to the Miller Amendment and to retain the current definition of hemp.
    • Support the organizations that are fighting for hemp with your donations: the American Healthy Alternatives Association, the Hemp Roundtable, the Midwest Hemp Council and the Hemp Industries Association. These organizations are leading the fight against a well-funded greed machine, and they cannot do it without your support. If you want the hemp industry to survive, then donate money to these organizations today! Don’t screw around. Do it now. 
    • Call “bullshit” on the organizations that purport to be pro-cannabis but advocate against hemp. Hemp is cannabis, and these organizations are working against your interests. Inform and educate your friends, colleagues, customers, competition, lawmakers, lobbyists, news media and anyone else who has any interest in cannabis that there is a war raging against hemp that will impact the future of cannabis. NOW IS THE TIME!
    • Stay up to date on news about the farm bill and state-level bills that deal with hemp. We are in a critical time for the industry, and things are moving very rapidly. You owe it to yourself and to the industry to stay informed.
    • Finally, set aside differences with your competition and focus instead on creating a united hemp industry that is dedicated to a positive future for cannabis. If we win, there will be plenty of time to compete, but if we lose, there will be no industry.

    The future of cannabis will be determined by what is happening right now. Act accordingly.

  • FEELM Showcases Several Systems at WVS Dubai

    FEELM Showcases Several Systems at WVS Dubai

    To address different consumer pain points in various markets, FEELM, an atomization innovator, highlighted several technologically advanced vaping solutions during the World Vape Show Dubai 2024.

    Under the theme “ALL ON,” the company officially launched its next-generation pod solution—FEELM Pro—in Dubai. “This solution meets consumers’ pursuit of explosive flavor by using the latest FEELM ceramic coil technology, featuring a thinner ceramic coil for explosive power. This ensures ample e-liquid supply with each puff, avoiding aroma loss during atomization and providing a higher, more stable flavor reproduction,” according to a press release.

    In addition to FEELM Pro, FEELM presented two different series of large puff solutions at the Dubai show: the TPD-compliant 5,000-puff disposable solution TANKER and the TPD-compliant 3,200-puff vape pod solution QUAD SHOT Pro. The former offers Balance and Turbo modes, allowing consumers to experience taste differences under different modes; the latter uses the FEELM Turbo solution, achieving a qualitative leap in flavor explosiveness compared to similar products, being both smooth and sweet, according to the release.

    “Under compliance, we strive for technological innovation in flavor explosiveness, flavor reproduction, human-machine interaction, and playability,” said Rex Zhang, assistant president for FEELM. “We hope to collaborate with more customers in the future, rooted in the TPD market, to meet the personalized needs of different consumers and help the industry accelerate into a new stage of development.”

    The company also brought six different series solutions, covering all the current innovative elements on the market and achieving different combinations of elements and experience upgrades through technological upgrades.

    “For example, the world’s first 30,000 puffs disposable with four-sided surround screen and ultra-high wattage solution ‘Galaxy Display + Quattro Mesh’ brings a high-configuration combination of a 4.8-inch four-sided surround screen and quad mesh combined with high wattage of 40W + 6 modes of different puffs,” the release states. “With this device, you can experience all the cutting-edge technological innovations, instantly falling in love with it.”

    Additionally, the world’s first 18,000-puff multifunctional modular design solution, “Off Charge,” was showcased. It strives for ultimate playability, bringing new ideas with a modular design and adding a smart screen display. Press a button to experience different flavors. After disassembling the module, you can smoke the pod while charging your phone with the EPS.

    Additionally, the world’s first 20,000-puff double-burst power ceramic coil solution, “FEELM Turbo DUO,” continues the high explosiveness of the FEELM Turbo series, doubling the flavor explosiveness with dual ceramic coils.

  • Romania Bans Vape Product and Pouch Advertising

    Romania Bans Vape Product and Pouch Advertising

    Photo: xpable

    Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted a bill banning advertising of electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches this week, reports Romania Insider.

    “It is prohibited to explicitly advertise tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, including vape types, products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes, electronic devices for heating tobacco, and products intended for inhalation without burning from tobacco substitutes as well as nicotine pouches for oral use (pouches) broadcast within radio and television programs and on public transport tickets,” the bill states. 

    The bill also bans advertising for these products within educational institutions and healthcare facilities or within 200 meters of their entrances. Advertising is also banned in publications primarily intended for minors and in theaters before, during and after performances intended for minors. Ads are banned that target minors, depict minors consuming these products, suggest these products have therapeutic properties or have a stimulating, sedative effect or can solve personal problems, give a negative image of abstinence or do not contain warning inscriptions in Romanian.

  • Study: Vaping as Effective as Chantix as Quit Aid

    Study: Vaping as Effective as Chantix as Quit Aid

    Credit: Brian Jackson

    E-cigarettes were just as effective as the gold-standard pharmaceutical drug varenicline, also known as Chantix, in helping people quit smoking, according to a clinical trial published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

    A total of 458 daily smokers who were willing to quit were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 12-week trial.

    One group received a nicotine-containing e-cigarette and placebo tablets, another group received varenicline and a nicotine-free e-cigarette, and the third group received a placebo tablet and a nicotine-free e-cigarette. All three groups also received extensive tobacco cessation counseling.

    After 26 weeks, approximately the same percentage of participants using varenicline and e-cigarettes, 43.8 percent and 40.4 percent respectively, had stopped smoking.

    The difference in quit rates between the two groups was not statistically significant.

    The JAMA study is the first published randomized controlled trial to directly compare varenicline to e-cigarettes.

    Previous studies have shown that e-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking. However, most of these studies have compared e-cigarettes either to a placebo or to nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and lozenges, which help smokers manage their withdrawal symptoms.