Thanks as always to the eminent Bill Godshall of Smokefree Pennsylvania for collecting and disseminating links to research, media, policy and politics surrounding the World War on Tobacco Harm Reduction:
UK government finds record low 17.2% cigarette smoking rate for adults in 2015, acknowledges vaping a reason for decline (from 20.1% in 2010)
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2015
Smoking numbers hit new low as Britons turn to vaping to help quit cigarettes
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/07/smoking-numbers-hit-new-low-as-britons-turn-to-vaping-to-help-quit-cigarettes
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4290638/Number-smokers-falls-lowest-level-records-began-1974.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4289458/The-number-smokers-plunges-just-17-cent.html
Analysis of 2014 Eurobarometer survey (of 15+ year olds from 28 EU states) data finds:
– Current smokers were 36 times more likely than never smokers to vape nicotine daily,
– Former smokers were 52 times more likely than never smokers to vape nicotine daily,
– Current smokers were 29 times more likely than never smokers to vape daily,
– Former smokers were 39 times more likely than never smokers to vape daily,
– 93% of daily vapers reported vaping nicotine daily,
– 1.08% of total population (15+ years) vaped daily, and 1.00% vaped nicotine daily,
– Just 0.08% of never smokers vaped daily, and only 0.04% vaped nicotine daily,
– 49.1% of daily nicotine vapers reported quitting smoking by switching to vaping,
– 0.0% of daily vapers reported increasing their cigarette consumption, and
– 9.3% of ever e-cig users vaped daily, and 8.6% of ever e-cig users vaped nicotine daily.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11739-017-1643-7
The 2014 Eurobarometer survey also found (as detailed in August 2016 article below):
– 6.1 million EU citizens quit smoking cigarettes by switching to vaping,
– 9.2 million EU citizens had reduced cigarette consumption after beginning to vape,
– Just 1.3% of never smokers reported current use of nicotine e-cigs, and
– Just 0.8% of ever tobacco/vapor users reported using vapor first.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.13506/abstract
http://www.firstpost.com/world/about-six-million-europeans-have-quit-smoking-with-e-cigarette-use-study-2949644.html
Bulgarian Health Ministry says 4.6% of Bulgarians are now daily vapers in Europe’s most prevalent cigarette smoking country, where 31.4% still smoke cigarettes daily.
http://www.vapingpost.com/2017/02/28/bulgaria-in-every-twenty-people-one-is-a-daily-vaper/
FDA PATH survey found almost 90% of American youth (ages 12-17) who vaped in past month reported doing so because vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking, refutes claim (in recent JAMA letter) that flavorings are why youth vape; Saul Shiffman to present this and other PATH findings at SRNT conference March 10 in Florence, Italy.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/youth-vape-to-reduce-harm-from-tobacco-cigarettes-over-availability-of-flavors-300419175.html?tc=eml_cleartime
Study of young adult vapers (ages 18-45) in US finds:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335517300426
– Daily users of e-cigarettes found them at least as satisfying as cigarettes.
– Satisfaction from e-cigarettes was more likely in more frequent users.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MiamiCaptionURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S2211335517300426&_image=1-s2.0-S2211335
– All daily users reported them as less dangerous than cigarettes.
– Perceived danger from e-cigarettes was higher in less frequent users.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MiamiCaptionURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S2211335517300426&_image=1-s2.0-S2211335517300426-gr2.jpg&_cid=280666&_explode=defaultEXP_LIST&_idxType=defaultREF_WORK_INDEX_TYPE&_alpha=defaultALPHA&_ba=&_rdoc=1&_fmt=FULL&_issn=22113355&_pii=S2211335517300426&md5=08caa08d630fcb0c119bba72cd05e0db
– Daily users of e-cigarettes were more likely to be using non-cig-alikes.
New UB study sheds light on perceptions of e-cigs
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2017/03/009.html
https://buffalonews.com/2017/03/03/ub-study-looks-perceptions-e-cigarettes/
Study finds young vapers (ages 16-26) correctly know that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking cigarettes, and that vaping has made smoking less acceptable
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687637.2017.1296933
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-young-people-associate-e-cigarettes-likelihood.html
Mintel survey finds UK smokers are still more than twice as likely to use vapor to quit smoking than Big Pharma drugs (62% vs 29%), which is why Big Pharma and its funding recipients have demonized and lobbied worldwide to ban vapor sales and use. But UK news headlines hype drop (from 69%) in percent of smokers who vape to quit smoking.
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-4269822/E-cigarette-use-falls-time.html
http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/fewer-people-using-e-cigarettes-to-quit-smoking-amid-lack-of-official-guidance-11364160483995
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/01/britains-e-cigarette-boom-data-suggests/
Survey of customers at 14 vape shops finds 84% reported first buying a vapor product to quit smoking
http://www.mentaldaily.com/article/2017/03/study-14-vape-shops-survey-about-e-cigarettes/
Four country survey found smokers who tried vaping to quit smoking (compared to smokers who tried quitting cold turkey) were far more likely to report 30 day sustained cigarette abstinence in countries that don’t ban sales of nicotine vapor products (i.e. US & UK) than in countries that banned sales of nicotine vapor products (Canada & Australia).
https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntx056/3061874/Does-the-regulatory-environment-for-e-cigarettes?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Brad Rodu: E-cigarette toxic chemical exposure is same as for nonsmokers
http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2017/03/e-cigarette-toxic-chemical-exposure-is.html
Nicotine vapor has far fewer genetic effects than cigarette smoke
http://www.science20.com/news_staff/nicotine_vapor_has_fewer_genetic_effects_than_cigarette_smoke-224896
Brad Rodu – Heavy Snus Use: Possible Link to Type 2 Diabetes
http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2017/03/heavy-snus-use-possible-link-to-type-2.html
Brad Rodu: Nicotine, Smokeless tobacco & Tourette Syndrome
http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2017/02/nicotine-smokeless-tobacco-tourette.html
THR Education
BAT Harm Reduction Focus Report 2016: Inspiring Products Driving Change
(new BAT report more accurate than info from all public health agencies, except PHE)
http://www.bat.com/group/sites/UK__9D9KCY.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO964UGU/$file/Harm_Reduction_Focus_Report_2016_v2.pdf
http://www.bat.com/group/sites/UK__9D9KCY.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DOAJYE7B
Nitzkin discusses issues on Tobacco Harm Reduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5BE2Qws06k&feature=youtu.be
Log Cabin Republican Gregory Angelo: Vaping is best way to stop LGBT smoking
http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/2/10/vaping-best-way-stop-lgbt-smoking
Scott Ballin discusses Tobacco Harm Reduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t8RJ6ZBoPU
UK vapers urge the Chancellor to recognize benefits of vaping on “No Smoking Day”
http://www.ukvia.co.uk/on-no-smoking-day-the-chancellor-must-recognise-a-public-health-revolution-that-has-already-delivered-a-96bn-saving/
Fresh urges smokers to Ditch or Switch to Vaping on “No Smoking Day” (UK)
http://www.starradio.co.uk/news/local-news/2240597/listen-ditch-or-switch-tobacco-on-no-smoking-day/
Responsible Parent’s Response to Child Vaping
http://www.pantagraph.com/lifestyles/rosemond-vaping-and-peer-pressure/article_a9a35aed-1d63-5820-ac11-c2253dce1bd0.html
Business
Big Tobacco has caught startup fever (about new low risk tobacco/nicotine alternatives)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-03-08/big-tobacco-has-caught-startup-fever
Proposed BAT acquisition of Reynolds clears US antitrust hurdle
http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/About-Us/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Details-/2017/Proposed-BAT-acquisition-of-RAI-clears-US-antitrust-hurdle/default.aspx
NJOY completes financial restructuring
http://www.cspdailynews.com/category-news/tobacco/articles/njoy-completes-financial-restructuring
Marlboro brand value hits record high of US$32.4 billion
http://brandfinance.com/news/press-releases/tobacco-brand-values-hit-new-highs-in-spite-of-regulation/
North Carolina based Madvapes registers 86 e-liquid products to comply with EU TPD
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/madvapes-registers-products-with-europe-tpd-300418105.html
TMA hires new president and CEO Christopher Greer
https://www.tma.org/article/2017/world-tma-welcomes-new-president-and-ceo-refreshed-mission
GOP Healthcare Reform Legislation
GOP healthcare reform bill would eliminate CDC’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, which wasted $495.3 million of taxpayer money on “Tobacco Use Prevention” (including demonizing and banning use of lifesaving vapor products and very low risk smokeless tobacco products) since 2012 (i.e. $126M-2016, $111M-2015, $105M-2014, $60.3M-2013, $93M-2012), Godshall comments.
https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/07/cdc-budget-obamacare-repeal/
http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2017/03/07/aca-repeal-would-mean-massive-cuts-to-public-health-leaving-cities-and-states-at-risk/comment-page-1/#comment-2627013
“Tobacco Use Prevention” stated purpose “To raise awareness and shift key attitudes and beliefs about the harms of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in areas of the country with some of the highest rates of tobacco use prevalence.”
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/fy-2016-allocation-pphf-funds.html
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/fy-2015-allocation-pphf-funds.html
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/fy-2014-allocation-pphf-funds.html
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/fy2013-allocation-pphf-funds.html
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/fy2012-allocation-pphf-funds.html
https://www.hhs.gov/open/prevention/
https://www.cdc.gov/funding/pphf/
FDA Deeming Regulation/Ban
VTA, SFATA, AVA, CASAA urge House Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi to support Cole/Sanford bill (HR 1136) to keep many vapor products legal to sell after FDA’s Deeming Ban on August 8, 2018 (by moving the Feb. 15, 2007 predicate date)
http://vaportechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FINAL-Industry-Letter-to-Speaker-Ryan-and-Leader-Pelosi-3-8-17.pdf
Heritage Foundation – Rethinking Tobacco Policy: The Federal Government Should Stop Blocking Alternatives
http://www.heritage.org/government-regulation/report/rethinking-tobacco-policy-the-federal-government-should-stop-blocking
Joel Nitzkin: Congress, Please Make Smoking Less Harmful
http://www.realclearhealth.com/articles/2017/03/02/congress_please_make_smoking_less_harmful_110475.html
Guy Bentley: A modest reform could mean life of death for the vaping industry
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/322109-a-modest-reform-could-mean-life-or-death-for-the-vaping
ACSH’s Hank Campbell: Myths, Facts and Fixing Policy on Vaping
http://acsh.org/news/2017/03/01/myths-facts-and-fixing-policy-vaping-10929
4 State AGs (AZ, TX, LA, MI) file amici brief opposing FDA’s Deeming Regulation/Ban on premium cigars
http://halfwheel.com/four-states-file-brief-opposing-fda-cigar-regulation/142716
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/attorneys-general-nonprofit-support-cigar-industry-in-fda-lawsuit-19242
FDA’s lies about and proposed ban for low risk smokeless tobacco products
Nitzkin/Rodu: FDA should get out of the smokeless tobacco industry
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/322118-fda-should-get-out-of-the-smokeless-tobacco-industry
Guy Bentley: How the CDC masks the truth about smokeless tobacco
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/how-the-cdc-masks-the-truth-about-smokeless-tobacco/article/2616021
Brad Rodu discusses Tobacco Harm Reduction (and FDA lies about smokeless tobacco)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keSHMEiu5vs
THR prohibitionists at TCLC endorse and promote FDA’s proposed standard that would ban the sale of >95% of smokeless tobacco products in the US, which would prompt many/most of the 3.2 million cigarette smokers who also use smokeless tobacco (per FDA’s PATH data) to increase cigarette consumption and reduce smokeless tobacco use.
http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/sites/default/files/resources/FDAs-First-Proposed-Product-Standard.pdf
FDA/NCI financed extremist Stan Glantz urges FDA to not extend public comment period on proposed cigarette protecting standard that would ban sales of >95% of low risk smokeless tobacco products now on US market, and would prompt many of the 3.2 million dual users of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes to increase cigarette consumption.
https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/fda-should-not-extend-comment-period-its-proposed-product-standard-limiting-nnn-levels-finished-smokeless-tobacco
More FDA CTP
FDA lets Reynolds’ Natural American Spirit cigarette keep using term “Natural” in brand name and trademarks (after previously claiming it was a banned MRTP claim), FDA agreed to settlement with Reynolds in January that wasn’t made public (requiring removal of terms “Additive Free” and “natural” on brands’ labels, advertising and promotions), anti-tobacco/vapor extremists CTFK and Legacy lies initiative criticize
http://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/reynolds-subsidiary-agrees-to-marketing-restrictions-for-super-premium-cigarette/article_1b1c3e2d-a58f-5c9d-ab6a-5a1b321695eb.html
http://news.morningstar.com/all/market-watch/TDJNMW20170302557/reynolds-will-have-to-remove-natural-and-additive-free-from-natural-american-spirit-cigarettes.aspx
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/content/press_office/2017/NASagreement.pdf
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/Smoking/63559
Note that FDA’s agreement with Reynolds is similar to FDA’s agreement with Altria’s John Middleton allowing “Black and Mild” cigar brands to keep that name (even though the TCA banned the word ‘mild’ as a tobacco brand descriptor), and is consistent with a 2004 statement by Altria’s Mark Berlind about 1st Amendment protections.
CTFK’s Matt Myers and Legacy’s Robin Koval in denial that brand names are protected by the US Constitution, criticize FDA for letting Reynolds keep cigarette brand name.
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/press_releases/post/2017_03_02_fda
https://truthinitiative.org/news/agreement-american-spirit-cigarettes-fails-protect-public-misleading-claims
22nd Century says it withdrew its MRTP application for its very low nicotine cigarettes, and now plans to submit a “more expensive and robust” MRTP application to FDA.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170228005123/en/22nd-Century-Written-Feedback-FDA-Company%E2%80%99s-Modified
FDA increases fines on retailers that violate the Tobacco Control Act
http://halfwheel.com/fda-increases-fines-retailers/143089
Trump Administration
Trump appoints Noel Francisco for US Solicitor General; Francisco is a Jones Day lawyer who represented Reynolds in lawsuit that struck down FDA’s unconstitutional graphic cigarette warning labels (after Godshall warned Obama’s FDA that its intentionally deceptive warnings may be unconstitutional)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/trump-nominates-dc-lawyer-noel-francisco-as-solicitor-general/2017/03/08/c62b0774-040f-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html
http://www.fed-soc.org/experts/detail/noel-j-francisco
Litigation
Fort Lauderdale law firm wins $6 million tobacco verdict for WWII veteran’s widow
http://www.ktre.com/story/34624895/fort-lauderdale-law-firm-wins-6-million-tobacco-verdict-for-world-war-ii-veterans-widow
Taxation
New Mexico Senate approves bill (SB 231) to impose 76% tax on vapor products, increase cigarette tax from $1.66 to $3.16/pack, increase OTP tax from 25% to 76%
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article137086668.html
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=S&LegType=B&LegNo=231&year=17
Kansas Senate rejects Gov. Brownback’s proposed tobacco tax increases
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/7/kansas-lawmakers-consider-hiking-tobacco-taxes-in-/
Kansas Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee amends, recommends passage of bill (SB 130) to change vapor e-liquid tax from $.20/ml to $.05/ml
http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/sb130/
http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/documents/cr_2017_sb130_s_1327.pdf
CASAA asks Kansas vapers to urge legislators to support and enact SB 130
http://casaa.org/call-to-action/kansas-take-action-to-change-the-tax-on-vapor-products/
After NY State Health Commissioner Zucker sends letter to all MDs in NY that grossly misrepresents the evidence on vapor products and urges their support for Gov. Cuomo’s proposed $.10/ml tax on e-liquid, R Street sends letter responding to Zucker .
http://www.rstreet.org/outreach/concerned-healthcare-providers-respond-to-new-york-department-of-health-commissioners-remarks-on-e-cigarettes/
NY Conservative Party: Block Tax on E-cigarettes
http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2017/03/conservative-party-block-tax-on-e-cigarettes/
PA Rep. Jeff Wheeland to proposed bill to change PA’s 40% vapor tax to $.05/ml
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=22325
PA Sen. Camera Bartolotta to proposed bill to change PA’s 40% vapor tax to $.05/ml
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20170&cosponId=22722
CASAA urges PA vapers to send letters of support for bills to tax e-liquid at $.05/ml http://p2a.co/fYelf6m
CASAA urges MN vapers to oppose bill (SF 1052) backed by Reynolds to impose $.30/ml tax on e-liquid.
http://casaa.org/call-to-action/minnesota-oppose-a-tax-hike-on-vaping/
Frank Chaloupka points out that raising cigarette tax benefits health and economy (OK)
http://journalrecord.com/2017/03/03/chaloupka-dont-trust-tobacco-industry-on-cigarette-taxes/
UK Government to increase taxes and duties on cigarettes
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4295694/Smokers-face-double-whammy-tax-increases.html
https://www.ft.com/content/66e5891e-0410-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9
Philip Morris Limited (PMI’s subsidiary in UK) urges British government to slightly increase cigarette tax to purportedly encourage smokers to switch to less harmful smokefree alternatives, but PML opposes any substantive cigarette tax increase.
https://www.pmi.com/resources/docs/default-source/default-document-library/taxing-tobacco-and-the-budget-views-of-philip-morris-limited.pdf
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/03/tax-us-worlds-biggest-cigarette-maker-tells-philip-hammond/
Ironically, in 2015, Philip Morris Limited vehemently opposed a UK cigarette tax increase, and instead urged the UK government to tax vapor products (see page 290)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/464795/PU1814_Tobacco_Levy_final_v3.pdf
BAT opposes minimum excise tax on cigarettes in UK, claims it will hurt low
http://www.cityam.com/260221/minimum-excise-tax-cigarettes-hurt-lower-earners-and-fuel
Indiana E-liquid Monopoly Law
Indiana Senate Cmte votes 8-1 for bill (SB 1) to repeal Indiana’s e-liquid monopoly law
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/indiana-senate-committee-advances-vaping-law-overhaul/article_f349ecca-b198-5b72-afcb-e685c5062c7a.html
http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/1#document-3bb69337
Flavoring Bans
Menthol cigarettes will soon be banned (UK)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/menthol-cigarettes-soon-banned-what-12710117
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4294888/Menthol-cigarettes-packs-10-outlawed-May.html
NJ Assembly/Senate Health Cmtes approve bills to ban sale of flavored vapor products
http://www.cspdailynews.com/category-news/tobacco/articles/nicotine-retailers-face-double-whammy-new-jersey
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/will_nj_soon_ban_flavored_electronic_smoking_devic.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20170227_ap_76ce4175c5db4f6daa2065bdb164846f.html
Flavored E-liquid
Clive Bates: Are e-liquid flavours really
http://www.clivebates.com/?p=4715
Advertising Restrictions
Advertising Standards Authority bans billboard showing Santa Claus vaping (UK)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38978119/santa-claus-vaping-advert-banned-for-appealing-to-kids
Minimum Age
Utah bill (HB 406) to increase minimum tobacco/vapor sale age to 21 years dies in House
http://halfwheel.com/utah-minimum-tobacco-purchasing-age-hike-bill-dies-house/143586
Idaho bill to increase minimum tobacco/vapor sale age to 21 years dies in Senate
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/article136218178.html
CASAA urges IL vapers to oppose bill (HB 3208) to raise minimum age for tobacco/vapor sales to 21
http://casaa.org/call-to-action/illinois-take-action-to-oppose-tobacco-and-vapor-21/
Florida bill (SB 1138) would increase minimum age for tobacco/vapor sales to 21
http://halfwheel.com/tobacco-age-increase-proposed-florida/142850
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/1138/?Tab=BillText
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/1138/BillText/Filed/PDF
Vaping Bans
New Mexico Senate approves bill (SB 318) to ban vaping in workplaces after bill sponsor Sen. McSorley falsely claims scientific evidence has found vapor aerosol harms nonusers
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/senate-votes-to-apply-smoking-rules-to-vaping/article_c0cbc6ad-228a-5e92-912d-d73a18b95a69.html
http://www.kob.com/politics-news/bill-adding-e-cigarettes-to-clean-indoor-air-act-in-committee-process/4416089/
http://krqe.com/2017/03/07/bill-would-ban-smoking-e-cigarettes-inside-public-buildings/
Allegheny County (PA) Council protects cigarettes, threatens smokers and vapers, bans vaping in 99% of workplaces (despite no evidence vaping harms non users) after Health Dept, Big Pharma shills, UPMC and MDs lied about vaping risks and benefits, and after County Executive Rich Fitzgerald pressured Democrats on Council to vote for ban.
http://triblive.com/local/allegheny/12015905-74/county-ban-vaping
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/03/07/Allegheny-County-vaping-ban-in-public-places-Pittsburgh-vote-approves-measure/stories/201703070217
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/03/02/Allegheny-County-Council-likely-to-vote-on-e-cigarette-ban/stories/201703020208
Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center commits public health malpractice, protects cigarettes (and UPMC’s future revenue from treating sick and dying smokers) by lying about vapor products, urging Allegheny County Council to ban vaping in 99% of workplaces.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/03/07/E-cigarette-ban-Pittsburgh-public-places-UPMC-and-Pitt-medical-experts-support-county-regulations/stories/201703070031
http://www.upmc.com/media/NewsReleases/2017/Pages/ecig-press-conf.aspx
Kokomo and Howard County (IN) ban smoking (and smokefree vaping) in workplaces
http://www.howardcountyin.gov/files_uploaded/4058_001.pdf
http://cbs4indy.com/2017/03/06/howard-county-kokomo-take-on-stricter-smoking-regulations/
http://halfwheel.com/kokomo-howard-county-ind-pass-smoking-bans/143592
Croatian bill to ban vaping in workplaces sent to Parliament for consideration
https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/bill-restricting-tobacco-use-sent-parliament-consideration-60001
Tacoma/Pierce County (WA) Health Dept post vaping ban signs that deceive public to believe vaping is as harmful as cigarette smoking.
http://www.dispatchnews.com/Content/News/News/Article/Stance-on-vaping-is-in-the-sign/26/337/3157
Arkansas bill (SB 285) to ban vaping in workplaces dies in Senate committee
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/02/e-cigarette-restrictions-fall-short-in–1/
Access to Vaping
Inmates in Irish prisons may soon have access to e-cigarettes
http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-prison-e-cigarettes-3257518-Feb2017/
Vapor Prohibition – Taiwan
Clive Bates: Challenging the proposed e-cigarette prohibition in Taiwan
http://www.clivebates.com/?p=4737
Clive Bates urges Taiwan to reject proposed cigarette protecting vapor ban
http://www.clivebates.com/documents/Taiwan2017.pdf
International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations urges Taiwan to embrace lifesaving vapor products instead of banning them
http://www.clivebates.com/documents/INNCOTaiwan2017.pdf
R Street’s Eli Lehrer and Ed Anselm urge Taiwan to reject proposed cigarette protecting vapor ban
https://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/R-Street-taiwan-comments-to-sendandpost.pdf
Canada
Derek From: Ottawa could muzzle access to scientific data on vaping (Bill S-5)
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/3/3/opinion–ottawa-could-muzzle-access-to-scientific-data-on-vaping.html
https://openparliament.ca/bills/42-1/S-5/
Derek From: Vaping laws keep less harmful option out of Canadian’s reach
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/derek-james-from/federal-vaping-law-gets-a_b_14963906.html
Derek From: Feds need to rethink anti-vaping legislation
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/02/26/feds-need-to-rethink-anti-vaping-legislation
Tyler Dawson – Tobacco control endgame, is it really about saving people?
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/dawson-tobacco-control-endgame-is-it-really-about-saving-people
Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott touts contradictory goals of reducing tobacco use to 5% by 2035 while imposing even more bans on lifesaving vapor products
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/whats-being-done-to-aggresively-lower-tobacco-use-among-canadians-by-2035/article34178419/
Eric Gagnon: How marijuana makes the obvious case against plain packaging for tobacco products (Canada)
http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/how-marijuana-makes-the-obvious-case-against-plain-packaging-for-tobacco-products
CAMH deceptively conflates its “tobacco free” policy with a “smokefree” policy, opposes cigarette smokers switching to low risk smokeless tobacco products
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-tobacco-free-feasible-boosts-safety-mental.html
Australia
Experts slam TGA e-cigarette ban as ‘unethical’ and ‘unscientific’ (Australia)
http://www.smh.com.au/national/experts-slam-tga-ecigarette-ban-as-unethical-and-unscientific-20170306-gurgnd.html
New Zealand
NZ Mauro Party co-leader Marama Fox calls for government subsidization of vapor products (just as it subsidizes Big Pharma drugs) in NZ where vapor sales are banned.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11810617
Mauri health group urges NZ Health Ministry to subsidize vapor products for smokers
http://www.waateanews.com/waateanews?story_id=MTU4MDM=
Smokers shifting onto e-cigarettes ‘is a win’ – Kiwi doctor (John Cameron)
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/smokers-shifting-onto-e-cigarettes-win-kiwi-doctor
‘I think we’ve got a win’ – NZ doctor believes vaping could shift people from smoking tobacco
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/think-we-have-got-win-nz-doctor-believes-vaping-could-shift-people-smoking-tobacco
Israel
Big Pharma funded health and medical groups in Israel upset Health Minister Litzman won’t ban sales of PMI’s low risk heat-not-burn iQOS
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Orgs-slam-Litzman-for-allowing-sale-of-iQOS-heated-smokeless-cigarettes-482967
Junk Science, Propaganda and Lies
FDA/NCI funded study finds air contains more benzene than e-cig vapor, but study authors (the same ones who falsely claimed vaping emits lots of formaldehyde in the NEJM) deceive peer reviewers, editors and news media again by falsely claiming their new study found “significant levels of cancer-causing benzene” in e-cig vapor.
http://www.ecigarette-research.org/research/index.php/whats-new/2017/252-benz
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0173055
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-cancer-causing-benzene-e-cigarette-vapors-high.html
Science Times article repeats and further hypes false fear mongering claims that vaping emits lots of benzene, along with horror stories about benzene to confuse and scare
http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/10054/20170309/vapors-of-high-powered-e-cigarettes-may-cause-cancer.htm
Abstinence-only anti-THR extremists at CASA protect cigarettes by falsely claiming just 20% of adult cigarette smokers in US are addicted, repeat hundreds of false fear mongering claims from junk studies to demonize nicotine, lifesaving vapor products, very low risk smokeless tobacco products, low risk cigars, pipes and hookah; deceitfully conflate all tobacco/nicotine products (except Big Pharma nicotine) with cigarettes.
http://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-research/reports/non-cigarette-nicotine-products
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-highlights-the-risks-of-non-cigarette-nicotine-products-300419749.html
Big Pharma financed ACS and ALA falsely claim cigarette companies sell most vapor products in US, but they will if FDA’s Deeming Regulation (that was aggressively lobbied for by ACS, ALA and other Big Pharma shills) isn’t rescinded or repealed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tobacco-companies-taking-over-the-e-cigarette-industry_us_58b48e02e4b0658fc20f98d0
Singapore’s Health MinisterAmy Khor falsely claims low risk heat-not-burn tobacco alternatives are “not significantly different” than deadly cigarettes, claims (despite zero evidence) they will addict children and be gateways to cigarettes as reasons to ban them.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/heated-tobacco-products-just-bad-cigarettes
Polosa/Howard refute false claims by DHHS funded vaping opponents about “dripping”
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/02/02/peds.2016-3224.comments
Big Pharma/FDA/NIH funded American Heart Association press release falsely claims vaping may increase stroke risk more than smoking (based on totally inapplicable rodent study in which mice were given more than a lethal dose of nicotine daily for 30 days); lazy stupid news media repeat false fear mongering claim without any fact checking.
http://newsroom.heart.org/news/isc17-thursday-news-tips
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4255696/Do-use-e-cigarettes-risk-STROKE.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/e-cigs-could-raise-risk-9906545
https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2940409/e-cigarette-users-may-be-at-higher-risk-of-a-life-threatening-stroke-than-smokers-study-finds/
Mike Siegel: American Heart Association claims that vaping causes severe strokes and is more risky than smoking
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/02/american-heart-association-claims-that.html
Philly Health Cmsnr Farley (who lied about vaping to lobby for NYC’s 2013/14 workplace vaping ban) now falsely claims cigars are target marketed to youth
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/health/Cigar-Use-Philadelphia-Youth-High-Rate-415030203.html
FDA/NCI/Legacy funded Glantz keeps lying about the modest impact smokefree workplace laws had on heart attack rates (as the vast majority of workplaces were already smokefree before the laws were enacted), comments refute and debunk Glantz
https://theconversation.com/no-doubt-about-it-smokefree-laws-cut-heart-attacks-in-big-way-73724
California Health Dept funded Yolo County Health Dept denounces retailers for selling lifesaving vapor products and low risk cigars (but not deadly cigarettes)
http://healthystoreshealthycommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Yolo-County-HSHC-2017-Press-Release.pdf
California Health Dept demonizes vaping again, and retailers who sell vapor products
http://healthystoreshealthycommunity.com/campaign/
Orange County Register hypes Yolo County Health Dept’s demonization of vapor http://www.ocregister.com/articles/percent-746049-county-stores.html
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/general-news/20170308/survey-finds-county-stores-sell-and-advertise-unhealthy-products
FDA funded junk study authors rely upon Twitter postings in another deceitful attempt to misrepresent why millions of smokers have switched to life saving vapor products
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0170702
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-shifting-rationales-vaping.html#jCp
Huff Post runs yet another op/ed that falsely claims vaping is addicting many nonsmokers and is harming vapers
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stuart-gale/ecigarettes-a-blessing-or_b_15234094.html
CVS funds study to congratulate itself for ending tobacco (and vapor) sales
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303612
CVS press release falsely congratulates itself for nation’s decline in cigarette smoking,
http://www.wcvb.com/article/overall-cigarette-sales-drop-after-cvs-removes-them-from-shelves/8974781
Befrits 
