Heads Up – News – Updates 3.14.2019

Posted on March 15, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 14, 2019. Call to Action in Wisconsin. Anti tobacco harm reduction laws in Alaska, Kansas, South Carolina, Nevada, Massachusetts, Arkansas and Illinois. American Heart Association’s endgame is to end nicotine use, regardless of low risk.

APPLETON, WISCONSIN: (CALL TO ACTION!!) Proposed ordinance will prohibit businesses owners (incl. vape shops) from allowing vaping in their own business! URGENT for CONSUMERS to SHOW UP and tell their story at the Council meeting WED. 3-20 @ 7PM.

Appleton, Wisconsin – Stop an Indoor Vaping Ban!

ALASKA: (HEADS UP!) HB 94 (Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau), a blatant money grab that the bill sponsor admits has nothing to do with health (seeing vapers as people no one will care about taxing) would apply the 75% #tobacco “sin tax” to #vaping products.

https://bit.ly/2W189FE

EMPORIA, KANSAS: (HEADS UP!) City officials being misled in effort to deny early ADULT #vapers access to SAFER alternatives to #smoking AND prohibit business owners from allowing #vaping on their own property, removing a big incentive to switch.

City discusses proposed vaping ordinance

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA: (HEADS UP!) Councilman suggests putting #vape businesses only in areas where tattoo parlors and strip clubs, others suggest treating smoke-free #vaping like #smoking, prohibiting businesses from allowing it on their property.

City informally discusses future of vape shops in Conway

NEVADA: (HEADS UP!) Anti-nicotine zealots pushing lawmakers to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. (Along with 30% added tax.)

Advocates meet with Nevada lawmakers to raise tobacco age

DEERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS: (HEADS UP!) Tobacco “expert” manipulating city/county officials into passing ordinances restricting access to #vaping products.

Deerfield hears from tobacco expert

ARKANSAS: (UPDATE) Committee REJECTS #vapor tax to fund NCI funding, BUT lawmakers announce intent to pass tobacco/vapor 21 law & to TAX smokers and vapers (who are typically lower income individuals) to provide tax relief to…lower income individuals.

Senate panel advances bill to fund NCI center, raise tobacco age – Talk Business & Politics

LAKE IN THE HILLS, ILLINOIS: (HEADS UP!) Village to vote TONIGHT (3-14) at 7:30 PM @ Village Hall on ordinance denying early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Lake in the Hills board to consider raising tobacco purchasing age to 21 | Northwest Herald

THE MORE YOU KNOW: AHA says “The ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE ALL NICOTINE addiction, but first…ensure e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products do not addict a new generation of users.” (ie. to end USE even if product has little to no health risks.)

American Heart Association Forecasts Endgame for Tobacco and Nicotine Use – American Heart Association Forecasts Endgame for Tobacco and Nicotine Use Association Issues Policy Recommendations for Ending the Tobacco Crisis March 13 2019 Categories:…

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in Alaska, All posts, Arkansas, e cigarettes, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, News, news-all, Smokeless Tobacco, South Carolina, Vaping, Vaping News, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.14.2019

Indoor Vaping Bans – Talking Points

Posted on March 15, 2019 by admin

Suggested Talking Points – Place Ban

(Please choose a few of the points below — topics you are most comfortable discussing.)

  • You are a resident and you oppose banning e-cigarette use where smoking is prohibited. (If you are responding to a Call to Action or Local Alert for a city or state in which you are not a resident, please mention any connection you have to the area, for example, you travel there on vacation or have friends/family in the area.)
  • Other governments are taking exactly the opposite approach; Public Health England (the government public health agency) and The Royal College of Physicians (a 500 year old association of 32,000 medical professionals in the UK) recently explicitly endorsed a policy of encouraging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes and vapor products (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-cigarettes-an-evidence-update) (https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-without-smoke-tobacco-harm-reduction-0).
  • Tell your story about how switching to vaping has changed your life. (Avoid using slang terms such as “juice.”)
  • Clarify that:
    • Smoking bans are ostensibly enacted to protect the public from the harm of secondhand smoke, but e-cigarettes have not been found to pose a risk to bystanders. In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to other smoke-free nicotine products.
    • The low risks of e-cigarettes is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand, Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University, and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor.
    • A comprehensive review conducted by Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University School of Public Health based on over 9,000 observations of e-cigarette liquid and vapor found “no apparent concern” for bystanders exposed to e-cigarette vapor, even under “worst case” assumptions about exposure.
    • Electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some vapor products resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is often practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke. Additionally, e-cigarette users can decide whether to release any vapor (“discrete vaping”).  With so little evidence of use, enforcing use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
    • The ability to vape in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other people who smoke to switch and reduce their health risks by an estimated 99%.
    • In cases where ordinances would prohibit vaping in vapor shops, losing the ability to test e-liquids before purchasing will have a significant and negative impact on your ability to choose which e-liquids to buy.
    • Many people who smoke first try e-cigarettes because they can use them where they cannot smoke, however, they often become “accidental quitters.” This is a documented phenomenon unique to e-cigarettes. It may take a few months or only a few days, but they inevitably stop smoking conventional cigarettes. This is why including vaping in smoking bans could have serious unintended consequences!
    • By making people who vape go outdoors, the city will also be sending a strong message to people who smoke that e-cigarettes are no safer than smoking. This will actually maintain the number of smokers, rather than help reduce smoking. This is a far more realistic risk to public health than any unfounded concerns about possible youth or non-smoker use uptake. In fact, the most recent report by the CDC showed that the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use over that past 3 years has not led to an increase in youth smoking. Youth smoking of traditional cigarettes continues to decline to record low levels.
    • The children of parents who smoke are far more likely to initiate smoking than the children of non-smoking parents who see strangers smoking in public. Children with parents who quit smoking aren’t any more likely to smoke than those of non-smoking parents. Prohibiting vapor products in public does little to protect the children of non-smoking parents from becoming smokers, but significantly increases the likelihood that many smoking parents won’t switch to a smoke-free product. This only serves to keep the highest-risk children at risk.
    • Vaping does not promote combustible tobacco use, nor does it threaten the public health gains the past few decades. In fact, by normalizing vaping over traditional smoking, the efforts of tobacco control are being supported. If anything, vaping denormalizes conventional smoking by setting the example of people who smoke choosing a vastly safer alternative to combustible tobacco products. CDC surveys clearly show that there has been no “gateway effect” causing non-smokers to start smoking. As vaping has become more popular, evidence shows that more and more people who smoke are quitting traditional cigarettes, including young people who smoke.
    • Important Note: A typical and frequent lawmaker response to people who vape who object to public use bans is “We aren’t banning all use or sales, just use where smoking is also prohibited.” Don’t give them the opportunity to counter you in that way! Make it very clear that you understand that this is not a ban on e-cigarette sales or a ban on vaping where smoking is allowed. But what IS being proposed is still a step backward for public health policy, not a step forward.

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: Alex Clark

Posted in All posts, e cigarettes, Indoor Vaping Ban, News, place ban, Smokeless Tobacco, Talking Points, Tool Box, vape ban, Vaping, Vaping News | Comments Off on Indoor Vaping Bans – Talking Points

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.13.2019

Posted on March 14, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 13, 2019. Calls to Action in Minnesota. Anti tobacco harm reduction laws in Illinois, Colorado, Washington, New Hampshire, Nevada. FDA releases vapor flavoring guidelines and changed deadline.

MINNESOTA: (CALL TO ACTION!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders, HF 349 prohibit businesses from allowing #vaping in their property, remove incentive for #smokers to switch. Vote Is Scheduled For TOMORROW, March 14. Click link to take action NOW!

MN – VOTE NO on HF 349, an Indoor Vaping Ban!

IN THE NEWS: (FDA) Agency releases draft guidance on #vaping flavors, moves up pre-market application deadline by a year (for flavors other than tobacco-, mint-, and menthol-flavored products) to 8-8-2021, gives 30 days comment period.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on advancing new policies aimed at preventing youth access to, and appeal of, flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and cigars

ILLINOIS: (UPDATE) House Bill 345, denying early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking, passed by a vote of 82-31 Tuesday. It now moves to the Illinois Senate.

Illinois House passes Tobacco 21 bill

ASPEN, COLORADO: (HEADS UP) City plans to ban flavored #vaping & #smokefree #tobacco products, reducing product’s appeal to adult #smokers and #vapers and an important and incentive to switch to far safer alternative products.

City to ban all flavored tobacco, nicotine products in Aspen

SKAGIT COUNTY, WASHINGTON: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders, County wants law to prohibit businesses from allowing #vaping in their property, “hope” #vapers outside will somehow dissuade youth use. PUBLIC HEARING April 9th @ 2PM.

County considers ban on public smoking, vaping

WINCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: (UPDATE) Voters wisely REJECT proposed law that would have denied early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Winchester voters snuff out proposal to raise tobacco age

NEVADA: (HEADS UP!) SB263 (Sen. Julia Ratti, D-Sparks) would sin tax #vaping products at same 30% rate, raising cost to #smokers, thereby removing savings incentive to switch to far safer alternatives to #smoking.

Vaping tax, bumpstock ban bills introduced in Nevada Legislature

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, Colorado, e cigarettes, FDA, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, News, news-all, Smokeless Tobacco, Vaping, Vaping News, Washington | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.13.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.12.2019

Posted on March 13, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 12, 2019. Calls to Action in Rhode Island and Utah. Anti-harm reduction laws in California, Ohio, Iowa, Connecticut and Colorado. FDA names interim chief.

RHODE ISLAND: (CALL TO ACTION!) Gov. Raimondo’s budget once again has 40% tax on #vaping products! House Finance Committee will be hearing testimony regarding this tax on March 21. Click CTA link to take action NOW!

RI – Stop the Governor’s Vapor Tax!

UTAH: (CALL TO ACTION!!) Stop an 82% tax on vapor products! Click the link to take action NOW!

UT – Call the Senate President (Stop HB 252, Vapor Tax)

EDGEWATER, COLORADO: (UPDATE) City becomes 5th city in state to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Edgewater Raises Age for Sale of Tobacco to 21 and Increases Smoke/Vapor-Free Protections – Edgewater Echo

LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA: (HEADS UP!) City Council late Monday voted unanimously to establish an ordinance banning flavored #tobacco and #vaping products. Next step is having city staff craft an ordinance to spell out the ban.

Lafayette Moves Closer to Ban on Flavored Tobacco

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO: (HEADS UP!) PUBLIC MEETING WED. @ 5 PM at Covelli Centre community room re: ordinance to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Public meeting on tobacco-purchase age is Wednesday

JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders, County considering ordinance MARCH 20th/27th to prohibit businesses from allowing #vaping in their own establishments, think #vapers outside would somehow put them out of view.

Johnson County considers expansion of ordinance to ban e-cigarettes in some areas

SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT: (UPDATE) Groups get town leaders to pass anti-harm reduction law that denies early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Southington votes to raise tobacco sale age to 21

IN THE NEWS: (FDA) Department of Health and Human Services confirms National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Ned Sharpless will be the acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Ned Sharpless named acting FDA commissioner

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, California, Colorado, Connecticut, e cigarettes, FDA, Iowa, News, news-all, Ohio, Rhode Island, Smokeless Tobacco, Utah, Vaping, Vaping News | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.12.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.8.2019

Posted on March 9, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 8, 2019. Anti-harm reduction laws in Maine and Utah. New Hampshire law put on hold. White House statement on Gottlieb resignation….

UTAH: (UPDATE) HB324, which would would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking, passed out of B & L Committee unanimously, will now go to Senate floor.

Bill to raise tobacco age to 21 in Utah moves forward in the Senate

NEW HAMPSHIRE: (UPDATE) Senate voted 18 – 6 to re-refer Tobacco & Vapor 21 bill (SB 248) back to committee. This means it will stay in committee for further review & won’t be back before the full Senate until Jan 2020.

New Hampshire Tobacco 21 Re-refered Back To Committee –

SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE: (HEADS UP!) Ban of flavored #vaping products (article doesn’t mention #tobacco products), which would reduce appeal to adult #smokers and #vapers switching to far safer alternative products, could be ready for Council vote in May.

Ban on flavored vape inserts aired in South Portland

IN THE NEWS: (FDA) White House Says No Dispute With FDA Chief Gottlieb Before Exit, No Letup Seen in Crackdown on Vaping by FDA, two potential contenders have emerged….

Bloomberg – FDA CHief Gottlieb

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, e cigarettes, FDA, Maine, New Hampshire, News, news-all, Smokeless Tobacco, Utah, Vaping, Vaping News | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.8.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.7.2019

Posted on March 8, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 7, 2019. Calls to Action in Connecticut and New York. Anti-harm reduction laws in South Dakota, Ohio, Illinois and Louisiana. 

CONNECTICUT: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) HB6404, which would ban flavored #vaping and #smokefree products, was referred to the Committee on Children yesterday. Contact your lawmakers here:

CT – Stop the attack on vaping

NEW YORK: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) Several bills that would ban flavors, enact and raise taxes, prohibit discounts, and raise the sales age to 21 for all tobacco and vapor products are on the move in the New York legislature. Take Action – Send a Message!

NY – Don’t let State BAN FLAVORS or ENACT TAXES on Vaping! – CASAA

SOUTH DAKOTA: (HEADS UP/UPDATE!) Bill passed in House and heading to full Senate would ban #vaping in public places, eliminating an important incentive for #smokers to switch to far safer alternatives.

Bill banning vaping in public places heads to full Senate

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO: (HEADS UP!) MEETING MARCH 18TH! City to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping products that could actually eliminate #smoking. Article is unclear if also includes #cigarettes or #tobacco.

University Heights Council expected to raise age for buying nicotine products to 21

ILLINOIS: (UPDATE) Bill (SB 21) denying early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking is “held back” (for now) due to “hesitation on the part of new members.”

‘Tobacco 21’ bill stalls in Illinois Senate

LAKEMORE, OHIO: (HEADS UP!) City would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. Next regular Council meeting March 18 at 7 PM in the Municipal Building.

Akron Ohio News – Lakemore Council considers raising tobacco buying age

RUSTON, LOUISIANA: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders, City prohibits businesses from allowing #vaping in their own establishments and bans use OUTDOORS in parks/on sidewalks/multi-unit housing common areas, etc.

Ruston becomes 21st municipality in Louisiana to go smoke free

DEKALB, ILLINOIS: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders, City considering baning #vaping OUTSIDE on all city property (except golf courses.)

DeKalb Park District eyeing smoking, vaping ban on park property | Daily Chronicle

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, Connecticut, e cigarettes, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, News, news-all, Ohio, Smokeless Tobacco, South Dakota, Vaping, Vaping News | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.7.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.6.2019

Posted on March 7, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 6, 2019. Calls to Action in Vermont & Indiana. Anti-harm reduction laws in Tennessee, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Louisiana, Indiana, Connecticut, Nebraska, WIsconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, Utah, New York, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Ohio, Alabama, Massachusetts. West Virginia rejects Tobacco 21. FDA head resigns. Studies look at nicotine benefits & more.

VERMONT: (CALL TO ACTION!) HB 26 would ban direct-to-consumer online sales of vapor products. Expected to be called on floor of Vermont House for a vote on Tuesday, March 12! Click link to message to your representative urging them to oppose this bill!

VT – Stop an Online Sales Ban!

INDIANA: (CALL TO ACTION!) Less than two years after vapor retailers reopened following Indiana’s disastrous attempt to “regulate” the industry, HB 1444 would enact an additional 4¢/mL tax on e-liquid. Take action NOW by sending a message to IN Senators: https://bit.ly/2EOib7s

IN THE NEWS: (HEADS UP!) Federal bill to be introduced this week seeks to ban “flavored” #vaping products nationwide, unless manufacturers can prove flavors are instrumental” & don’t “make vapes more harmful.” No mention of seeking opinion of #vapers.

This bill could ban e-cigarette flavors nationwide – CNN

SPRING HILL, TENNESSEE: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders nor any explanation of HOW it could prevent teen experimentation, city bans #vaping OUTDOORS in parks.

https://bit.ly/2IRXzPU

OLMSTED COUNTY, MINNESOTA: (HEADS UP!) Officials would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. PUBLIC HEARING on proposed revision on APRIL 2!

Olmsted County Public Health recommends raising the tobacco age to 21

MILLER COUNTY, MISSOURI: (HEADS UP!) MEETING TUESDAY! County Admin asking Eldon & other cities in county to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. 
Eldon board supports raising tobacco purchase age in Miller County

NEW MEXICO: (HEADS UP!) Even with a $1.1 billion surplus, House passes HB 6, which would add #vaping products to the list of “#tobacco products” that can be taxed. The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

https://bit.ly/2tTzz4h

LOUISIANA: (HEADS UP!) Bill proposed by Rep. Frank Hoffman for legislative session starting April 8th would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking!

https://bit.ly/2TlQhsj

THE MORE YOU KNOW: Rutgers study finds nearly half of surveyed smokers WRONGLY believe #smokefree #tobacco like #snus has same health risks as #smoking. (Unfortunately, that misinformation is disseminated to the public by government & health groups.)

https://bit.ly/2HfBjwQ

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT: (HEADS UP!) Town Council subcommittee may vote to today deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking!

https://bit.ly/2NKkWJG

NEBRASKA: (HEADS UP!) Lawmaker seeks to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking!

https://bit.ly/2ISOeas

COMMENTARY: (ROSS MARCHAND) “FDA’s Bizarre Ban on E-Cigarettes Would Endanger Millions of Lives – agency can save countless lives, but only if it allows innovators to bring their revolutionary products to market.”
https://bit.ly/2IVSZjq

KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders nor any explanation of HOW it could prevent teen use, city quickly (and pretty quietly) adds #vaping to indoor #smoking ban. (At least this one has some significant exceptions.)

https://bit.ly/2Ez9oF7

SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS: (HEADS UP!) County considering banning #smoking OUTDOORS in parks. No mention of #vaping or #smoking here, but these bans have lately been including one or both. Local advocates should be on the alert!

https://bit.ly/2IPD3PI

ILLINOIS: (HEADS UP!) Bill SB 1864 would prohibit businesses from allowing #vaping in their own establishments. Forcing #vapers outside would also eliminate important incentive for #smokers to switch to the far safer #SMOKEFREE products.

https://bit.ly/2ETAYyp

IN THE NEWS: FDA chief Scott Gottlieb unexpectedly resigns after meeting with White House, reportedly to unveil new FDA rules on #vaping flavors, leaving harm reduction advocates facing even more uncertainty.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/432708-fda-chief-scott-gottlieb-resigns-reports

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND: (UPDATE) The slippery slope continues to slide. Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, officials prohibit bars & restaurants from allowing use of #vaping products OUTSIDE on patios.

https://bit.ly/2TnwmcG

TEXAS: (HEADS UP!) Bills SB 21 & HB 749 would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products. HB 749 will be heard Wednesday in Public Affairs Committee!

https://bit.ly/2TjXDMZ

WEST VIRGINIA: (UPDATE) House panel wisely REJECTS bill that would have denied early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products!

https://bit.ly/2HfIeWG

PROVO, UTAH: (HEADS UP!) City Council supports HB 324 and states it is considering passing an ordinance that would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products if the state bill doesn’t pass.

https://bit.ly/2ETFGMB

NEW YORK: (UPDATE & HEADS UP!) Assembly voted overwhelmingly in support of denying early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products. Backed by governor, bill now heads to the state Senate.

https://bit.ly/2SNxDVh

PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS: (UPDATE) City denies early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products.

https://bit.ly/2IWjYeS

LITCHFIELD, MINNESOTA: (HEADS UP!) Proposed ordinance would essentially ban ban vape shops, possibly #vaping where #smoking is prohibited & prohibit vape shops from opening within 2,000 ft of a tobacco stores & more.

https://bit.ly/2NN6C38

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT: (HEADS UP!) Town Council is expected to vote on denying early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products on March 26.

https://bit.ly/2NLMr5P

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: (HEADS UP!) Officials decided to table ordinance that would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products UNTIL APRIL in an effort to allow for more public input.

https://bit.ly/2tUAMso

MANKATO, MINNESOTA: (HEADS UP!) Residents are being asked to take an online survey regarding ordinance to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products. (Last year, Mankato rejected the measure by 4-3.)

https://soundoffmankato.mankatomn.gov/tobacco-21

THE MORE YOU KNOW: (HAWAII) Tobacco 21 appears to be useless policy against so-called “#vaping epidemic” as state now “has the third highest rate of vape use among high school students” in spite of passing T21 in 2016. Somehow, banning flavors will help?

https://bit.ly/2UjX9CI

IN THE NEWS: (OHIO) Proving the point that it’s a losing battle trying to ban products because of teen experimentation – especially at the expense of adult health – officials now worried about “flavored nicotine toothpicks.” 

https://bit.ly/2VIvZpx

THE MORE YOU KNOW: Research is looking at the POSITIVE effects of #nicotine on the brain.

https://www.postandcourier.com/health/could-nicotine-play-a-role-in-combating-early-memory-deterioration/article_352359fe-3e9e-11e9-85a7-dbb53cc006e2.html

ALABAMA: (HEADS UP!) HB41 would regulate #vaping products, including “warning signs in their stores regarding the dangers of #nicotine use and potential risks associated with vaping,” in spite of lack of evidence for dangers/risks.

https://bit.ly/2UpmNq6

MARION, MASSACHUSETTS: (HEADS UP!) At the upcoming meeting, on March 12 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House, the Board of Health will consider banning flavored #vaping and #smokefree products in ALL stores.

https://bit.ly/2UkwRjT

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in Alabama, All posts, Connecticut, e cigarettes, FDA, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, News, news-all, Ohio, Smokeless Tobacco, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vaping, Vaping News, Vermont, west virginia, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.6.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 3.1.2019

Posted on March 2, 2019 by admin
MARCH 1, 2019
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)


Tobacco harm reduction news for March 1, 2019. Anti-harm reduction laws in Wisconsin, Utah, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, New York and Indiana. Bill seeks to charge manufacturers of vaping products fee to fund FDA oversight.

WISCONSIN: (HEADS UP!) @GovEvers wants to tax #vaping products at 71% of the LIST price, making a $10 bottle cost over $17! This would remove a significant cost incentive for (mostly lower income) adult #smokers to switch to the MUCH SAFER alternatives.

Evers’ budget includes gas tax, minimum wage hike, automatic voter registration

IN THE NEWS: (FDA) Sen. Shaheen bill calls for FDA to collect fees from #vape manufacturers in 2020 of $150 million (2% of total aggregate manufacturer sales of #vaping products sold in the US the previous year) – likely increasing cost to consumers.

Shaheen bill would slap fees on e-cigarette makers

UTAH: (UPDATE) Bill to deny early ADULT #vapers & #smokers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products narrowly advanced from the House committee. 

A proposal to boost Utah’s legal tobacco, e-cigarette age to 21 barely makes it out of a House committee

VERMONT: (HEADS UP!) Senate bill denies early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. If passes Senate vote Friday, it moves to House for consideration after Town Meeting Day.

Vermont Senate Approves Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21

KIRBY, TEXAS: (UPDATE) After second reading, city denies early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Kirby City Council votes to ban sale of tobacco products to those under 21

STOW, OHIO: (UPDATE) City Council wisely voted 5-1 AGAINST denying early ADULT #vapers & #smokers access to much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products!

Stow City Council rejects tighter tobacco controls despite community’s support

BARABOO, WISCONSIN: (HEADS UP!) Ordinance to ban use of #vaping & #smokefree products OUTSIDE, without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, has passed & will return to the council for a second reading.

Baraboo to ban tobacco in parks

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK: (UPDATE) Council removes “possession” clause, but still plans (without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention) to ban use of #vaping products OUTSIDE in parks & ON SIDEWALKS. Hearing 5 PM Thursday, March 14!

Council makes changes to proposed ban on e-cigs

INDIANA: (UPDATE) Lawmakers rejecting $2.995 #cigarette tax, while 4¢/mL tax on much safer #vaping products (ludicrously intended to reduce non-existent “youth vaping epidemic”) is still on the table after narrowly passing the House, 53-40.

Prospects for $2 per pack cigarette tax hike all but snuffed out at the Statehouse

If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group: CASAA.org – The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, e cigarettes, FDA, Indiana, New York, News, news-all, Ohio, Smokeless Tobacco, Texas, Utah, Vaping, Vaping News, Vermont, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 3.1.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 2.28.2019

Posted on March 1, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for February 28, 2019. Calls to Action for Arkansas and Delaware. Anti-harm reduction laws in Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Florida, Alaska, West Virginia, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Colorado and Oregon.

ARKANSAS: (CALL TO ACTION!) HB 1519, which would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking, is moving on to the floor of the House for a vote!

ARKANSAS – Stop Tobacco AND Vapor 21 Bill! – CASAA

DELAWARE: (CALL TO ACTION!) SB 25 would raise sales age for tobacco AND #vaping products to 21-years-old, prohibit use of coupons/discounts for vapor products, & add vapor products to Delaware’s signature on delivery requirement for online sales.

DELAWARE – Stop Attack on Vaping! – CASAA

RACINE, WISCONSIN: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, officials want to ban #vaping where #smoking is prohibited, prohibiting business owners from allowing #vaping on their own property & removing incentive to switch.

Perez proposes vaping ban for minors; may also add e-cigarettes to public smoking ban

THE MORE YOU KNOW: With #smoking at all time low, all pretense of justification for indoor & outdoor bans with “known harm from smoke” dropped for “NICOTINE-FREE ORDINANCE” w/ NO EVIDENCE of health risk to bystanders from #vaping or #smokefree products.

Committee seeks county’s next nicotine-free ordinance

TEXAS: (HEADS UP!) Bill would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Should Texas Increase the Legal Smoking Age to 21?

HARDIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity shown, officials ban #vaping where #smoking is prohibited, prohibiting business owners from allowing #vaping in own property & removing important incentive to switch.

E-cigs added to law regulating smoking

ROBBINSDALE, MINNESOTA: (HEADS UP!) City would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. FINAL VOTE MEETING MARCH 19th!

Robbinsdale Moves to Raise Tobacco Sales Age to 21 – CCX Media

LYNN HAVEN, FLORIDA: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or any other reasonable justification, officials move to BAN #VAPING OUTDOORS (but getting people drunk seems to now be acceptable.)

https://bit.ly/2TnK9Pv

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: (HEADS UP!) Ordinance would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Assembly takes on legal tobacco age, bike thefts, bus barn

MINNESOTA: (UPDATE) bill to deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking passed two committees in the Minnesota House and Senate.

Bill proposing to raise the tobacco age to 21 passes 2 Minnesota House, Senate committees

DELAWARE: (HEADS UP!) A bill introduced Wednesday would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking. (At least this one doesn’t criminalize youth possession.)

Delaware lawmakers seek to raise age to buy tobacco products

WEST VIRGINIA: (HEADS UP!) Senate has passed a bill that would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

WV Senate OKs bill to raise minimum tobacco use age to 21

IN THE NEWS: Despite fact that 18-20 year-olds make up less than 2% of #tobacco sales, FDA head Scott Gottlieb (classifying #vaping products as “tobacco”) says reducing 18 y/o vape dealers would help him fight alleged “youth epidemic.”

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb backs raising the minimum age for tobacco to 21

MARIETTA, GEORGIA: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders (or any other sound justification,) officials move to ban #vaping & #smokefree use OUTDOORS in parks & on sidewalks (complain of “smoke rooms on our sidewalks” that THEIR indoor ban created.)

Marietta considers new bans on vaping, smoking

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, City proposes banning use AND POSSESSION of #vaping products on ANY public property, including OUTDOOR SPACES like parks and sidewalks.

Ban on e-cigs up for comment

IN THE NEWS: (NEW JERSEY) Despite of the fact that it’s already illegal to sell #vaping products to anyone under 21, order to “protect youth,” lawmaker proposes punishment for possession by turning them (and ADULTS 18-20 years old) into petty criminals.

https://bit.ly/2T7qa8g

JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders (or any other sound justification,) officials move to prohibit business owners from allowing #vaping in their own property AND even use OUTDOORS on public property.
https://bit.ly/2Vo6Lg8

COLORADO: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity shown, bill to ban #vaping where #smoking is prohibited, prohibiting business owners from allowing #vaping in own property & removing important incentive to switch CLEARS COMMITTEE.

https://cbsloc.al/2VtoMK8

OREGON: (HEADS UP!) House Bill 2123 expands the state’s definition of tobacco products to include #vaping products while House Bill 2159 would establish an outrageous 95% tax, discouraging use of products at least 95% safer than smoking. No hearings yet scheduled.

https://bit.ly/2XvbHBV

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in Alaska, All posts, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, e cigarettes, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, News, news-all, Oregon, Smokeless Tobacco, Texas, Vaping, Vaping News, west virginia, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 2.28.2019

Heads Up – News – Updates 2.26.2019

Posted on February 27, 2019 by admin


Tobacco harm reduction news for February 26, 2019. Anti-harm reduction laws in Utah, Tennessee, Illinois, South Dakota and Michigan.

CEDAR HILLS, UTAH: (UPDATE) City denies early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking.

Then there were two: Cedar Hills raises tobacco, e-cigarette age to 21, following Lehi

TENNESSEE: (HEADS UP!) Bill would deny early ADULT #smokers & #vapers access to the much safer alternative #vaping & #smokefree products that could actually eliminate #smoking & $2.6 billion is health care costs.

Bill would raise age to buy tobacco to 21

BOONE COUNTY, ILLINOIS: (UPDATE) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, officials ban #vaping where #smoking is prohibited, prohibiting business owners from allowing #vaping in own property.

Boone County expands tobacco ordinance to include vaping, e-cigarettes

SOUTH DAKOTA: (HEADS UP!) Without any evidence of risk to bystanders or necessity of intervention, officials want to ban #vaping where #smoking is prohibited, prohibiting business owners from allowing #vaping on their own property.

Prime Sponsor Of Public Vaping Bill: “This Is An Issue That Needs Our Concern”

MICHIGAN: (HEADS UP!) Rep. Hood proposing cigarette tax increase by $1.50 which would increase total tax to $3.50/pack. She also wants to TAX #VAPING AT THE SAME RATE, greatly increasing cost of far safer alternatives to #smoking helping #smokers quit.

Bill proposed to increase cigarette taxes

This article was originally published at CASAA
Author: KNoll-Marsh

Posted in All posts, e cigarettes, Illinois, Michigan, News, news-all, Smokeless Tobacco, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vaping, Vaping News | Comments Off on Heads Up – News – Updates 2.26.2019