Vaping News Headlines
US Vape Bans Spreading | Number Of UK Vapers Soars | JUUL To Sack Staff? | JUUL Pod May Have Killed A Puppy | PG Perfectly Safe and Anti-Vape Professor Goes Out On A Limb…
Los Angeles and Massachusetts Ban Vaping – Who’s Next?
Two more key American battle grounds in the war against vaping have fallen with experts warning of many more to follow.
Last night the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to ban all flavoured tobacco and flavoured e-liquids and pods.
And almost simultaneously, Massachusetts declared an immediate 4 month total ban on all things vape from pods to devices – to allow ‘experts’ to study the safety of e-cigarettes.
Then came the news the Governor of Rhode Island – Gina Raimondo – was making an announcement on a probable vape ban today [Wednesday September 25th] – apparently she’s working late into the night with her legal advisors as to how she can overthrow democracy…
And the first meeting of the so called New Jersey Vaping Task Force met yesterday as they too discussed a complete ban of all vape kits and e-liquids.
The turn out for NJ pro-vaping protestors was according to those who attended ‘amazing’ and even vape advocate Professor Michael Siegel was in attendance.
Whilst earlier this week lawmakers in Illinois were readying a vape ban.
It looks likely to go ahead when any legislation is voted on given Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and outspoken vape critic Senator Dick Durbin have teamed up to support any form of ban they come up with.
LA Preliminary Vape Ban Vote Passes
To LA where the vote was the first of two and passed despite pro-vaping protestors calling for a re-think.
The next and killer vote is scheduled for ‘sometime soon’. and looks more than likely to pass.
The legislation means any shop selling what ‘flavoured tobacco products’ are left for sale, will now have to pay an initial $778 for a county business license to be renewed at further cost every 2 years. This is on top of the current ‘fees’ those businesses have to pay.
After the vote Supervisor Janice Hahn showed the total ignorance of anti-vaping politicians saying:
By taking action now and banning the sale of flavored products that mask the smell and taste of tobacco, we may be able to save this next generation from the same terrible health effects of nicotine addiction that generations before them suffered from.
Meanwhile and as the state of California speeds up on its plan to ban vaping outright with the Department of Health urging its residents to stop vaping immediately adding:
…no matter the substance or source, until current investigations are complete.
Crazy doesn’t begin to cover this absolute shit show.
Massachusetts Bans ALL Vape Products For 4 Months
Governor Charlie Baker has declared a ‘public health emergency’ and banned ALL vape products from devices and pod kits to flavoured e-liquids and regulated THC cartridges.
The total ban will last 4 months and end on January 25th giving ‘medical experts’ time to study what has caused the outbreak of respiratory illnesses and a reported 8 deaths in America.
It would appear the root cause has been shown to be illegal street bought contaminated cannabis oil cartridges almost all containing Vitamin E and other ‘cutting agents’ – with none of the tragic cases linked to shop bought nicotine or none nicotine flavoured e-liquids.
Baker said:
I’m declaring this public health emergency because medical and disease control experts have been tracking a rapidly increasing number of vaping-related illnesses that in some cases have led to death.
The use of e-cigarettes and marijuana vaping products is exploding and we are seeing reports of serious lung illnesses, particularly in our young people.
The legislation means vape shops across the state will now be forcibly shut down whilst marijuana leaf and of course lit tobacco will remain on sale.
The current levels of craziness across the pond has reached epic never mind epidemic levels.
And don’t forget – even if pro-vapers claw back or win tiny victories as local and statewide bans are introduced – the PMTA process will wipe them out – read my piece Forget Flavour Bans the PMTA Process Is the REAL Threat To US Vapers on why I believe that.
Arizona Governor Says No Need For Vape Bans!
At last a voice of reason from a US politician!
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey says he’s not in favour of bringing in a flavour ban.
Instead he’s adopting the educate NOT legislate approach that I’ve been banging on about for years.
The Facts over Flavor progamme is aimed at kids aged between 9 to 13 and the Governor says rather than an outright ban he’d rather see the legal age of buying e-cigs raised to 21.
Sadly the facts in this campaign are almost 100% wrong but hey at least he hasn’t brought down the ban hammer lol.
How is this going to end?
One word – badly.
Expect more states – towns and counties to bring in their own vape bans and it goes without saying we’ll keep you updated.
Meanwhile Here In the UK Vaping Numbers Are Surging!
The number of UK vapers has risen and now stands at half the amount of smokers!
Action on Smoking and Health [ASH] says its research has shown a jump in the number of UK vapers to 3.6million compared to just 700,000 of us in 2012.
I shall be doing a larger piece on this later this week – however, the key facts are:
- 54% have given up smoking
- 40% both smoke and vape
Professor Ann McNeill said:
It’s important that all vapers stop smoking completely, as otherwise they are still exposing themselves to the serious risks of disease and disability caused by smoking.
Vaping isn’t risk free – but it’s much less risky than smoking, which kills nearly 100,000 people a year in the UK.
Chief Executive of ASH, Debbie Arnott said:
Although e-cigarettes are now the most popular quitting aid, our survey finds that in 2019 over a third of smokers have still never tried vaping.
As Stoptober kicks off, we’d encourage smokers who haven’t done so yet, to give vaping a try.
Vapers should not be scared back to smoking by the news of vaping illness in the US. Nor should smokers stick to smoking rather than switch to vaping.
It is essential, however, to only use legal vapes bought from reputable suppliers in the UK and not source illicit unregulated products over the internet.
What a difference an ocean can make…
JUUL To Sack Staff Amid US Vape ‘Crisis’
American mainstream media is reporting vape giant JUUL is preparing to sack employees as the vaping crisis takes hold.
It’s not only the vape and flavour bans that has led to the decision – JUUL is facing a ton of multi-million dollar lawsuits across the country which if proven will cost them a fortune.
It’s not only civil lawsuits either – California lawmakers have confirmed they are carrying out a criminal investigation into the company too.
As to what exactly the investigation is about no one is saying and JUUL hasn’t responded to any media requests.
The company is also under extreme scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and multiple state attorneys.
JUUL currently has 3,900 employees and has 72% of the US vape market and posted over $1billion revenue last year alone.
JUUL Pod May Have Killed Puppy
Sad news from Wisconsin after it’s claimed a St. Bernard puppy named Molly died after swallowing a JUUL pod.
Owner Katie Bears said the pup found the pod under the sofa – a place her son kept them hidden.
After being rushed to the vets sadly Molly died it is believed from nicotine poisoning.
Tragic news for sure and a timely reminder of an article I wrote 2 years ago: Keeping Your Pets Safe When Vaping.
There’s a list of symptoms to look out for and of course a warning to keep all vape products out of reach from children and pets.
Vaping Tweet of the Week
PG is NOT responsible for the spate of respiratory illnesses and deaths says pro vaping scientist Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos M.D.
A handful of reports had tried to link the harmless substance found in most e-liquids, but the good doctor was quick to squash the claims with this succinct tweet:
For those suggesting that PG may have caused the lung disease cases in the US, and claiming we have no data on safety, just look back 7 decades ago (1947): https://t.co/O0ncKoTrrh Animals living in atmosphere supersaturated with PG for up to 18 months–> NO adverse effects.
— K. Farsalinos (@FarsalinosK) September 24, 2019
Nicely done doc.
and finally…Vape Ban Madness Hits Ireland
A top heart doctor based in Ireland has gone out on a limb suggesting vaping should be banned in the country.
The ‘out on a limb’ reference is an attempt at a pun given Professor Sherif Sultan, President of the International Society For Vascular Surgery, reckons one of his patients lost a leg due to vaping…
Yeah I know…
I’ve heard of vaping costing an arm and a leg when buying all those new shinnies – but come on lol.
He also says vaping is:
…the disaster of the century.
Lol – this dude needs to hop over to America – he’d never be off the TV screens.
He’s now calling on the Irish Health Minister, Simon Harris, to act:
…he needs to step in now before it’s too late and ban them.
He needs to follow in Donald Trump’s footsteps.
You mean go for a fake tan and comb over whilst spouting complete BS about vaping?
But it gets worse:
This is an epidemic that must stop now.
Vaping is more dangerous than smoking and alcohol combined.
It is not safe.
We need to ban them immediately.
I looked after a patient who ended up in intensive care because her daughter gave her a vape suggesting that it would be much better for her to use than smoke.
She lost the supply of one of her legs and half of the tissue of both kidneys because of the excessive use of nicotine vaping.
W T F ??? Vaping more dangerous than smoking and alcohol combined?
Was this guy legless at the time of the interview?
I suggest the good doctor stops his bull shit and spends more time on research because he doesn’t have a leg to stand on with these BS claims.
Whilst funny to us – the sad thing is it’s ill-informed rhetoric like this that stops smokers quitting via vaping…and that is criminal.
In all seriousness, the Irish Vape Vendors Association agrees and Declan Connolly, director of IVVA called for the professor to retract his outrageous comments:
..this statement from Prof Sherif Sultan is blatantly untrue, and these ill-informed comments should be withdrawn immediately.
There has been ever growing negative hysteria about vaping in recent weeks, and articles such as the one published in yesterday’s Irish Sunday Mirror will persuade current vapers to go back smoking, and have the added effect of discouraging current smokers from switching to vaping which is at least 95% safer than smoking, according to Public Health England and backed up by the Royal College of Physicians and Cancer Research UK.
Well said but don’t hold your breath waiting for a retraction…
More vaping news on Sunday…fingers crossed some of it will be good…
