WV targets dissolvables

[TropicalBob]

From the West Virginia Gazette:


CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In 2007, public health officials in West Virginia warned consumers about "snus," ground tobacco packaged in a teabag-like pouch. Now, some lawmakers want to draw more attention to the growing variety of smokeless tobacco products.

A bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday would bar the sale of "dissolvable tobacco products" in West Virginia.

Sen. Mike Oliverio, D-Monongalia, said it was highly unlikely the bill would pass this late in the legislative session. But he introduced it to start a discussion about the increasing use of smokeless tobacco products among teens, he said.

"I just thought we should start a public debate," he said.

Earlier this week, members of the teen anti-tobacco group Raze visited the Capitol for Tobacco Free Day, he said. Students from Oliverio's district told him about new dissolvable tobacco products, which take the form of dissolvable sticks, strips, and tablets.

The kids said some teens use the smokeless tobacco products while sitting in class, Oliverio said.

"It's scary stuff out there," he said.

One of the newest products are Camel Orbs, dissolvable tobacco tablets packaged like mints. They hit the shelves in January.

So far, the product is only available in three U.S. cities, said R.J Reynolds Tobacco Co. spokesman David Howard: Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Ore. and Indianapolis.

They are made of finely milled tobacco and food-grade binders, he said.

"These types of products, we believe, meet the needs of adult smokers," Howard said.

Howard said such products let smokers use tobacco in places where smoking is prohibited - like restaurants and offices - while "meeting societal expectations."

"There's no spitting required," he said. "They don't have secondhand smoke. And they fully dissolve, so there's no litter."

When asked about health risks, Howard said he wasn't aware of any studies specific to dissolvable tobacco.

"We are not making any health claims," he said. "No tobacco product has been shown to be without risk."

Dissolvable tobacco products are age-restricted, sold behind counters and contain warning labels, he said.

"It's clear that these are tobacco products," he said. "And they are marketed as such, and sold as such."

[Kitabz]

From the West Virginia Gazette:<snip>

Most interesting. Still you're lucky over the pond in being able to even get snus, they're not legal in the EU at all.

I find the hysteria over [what was smoking but is now] nicotine somewhat bemusing. Why do people care what others do to their own bodies? Is it the case that all the noise over cigarettes these past few decades really had nothing to do with passive smoke, the smell, etc., but really to do with controlling others?

Why is coffee exempt from this tirade and, to a lesser extent - here in the UK at least - alcohol? Until now at least...

I've been surprised at the speed with which smoking/nicotine have gone from accepted to tolerated to segregated to demonised to largely outlawed to beyond-the-pale. I fear for the future (of everything not just smoking/vaping/coffee/drinking/whatever).

[Lorddrek]

I really want to try out those Camel Orbs too. I wonder if I will ever get the chance...

[TropicalBob]

I use my e-cig and Stonewall dissolvables about equally. The dissolvables are essential for me first thing in the morning and after meals. Haven't tried the Camel ones yet, but RJR appears to have simply copied Star Scientific's pioneering method of curing and pressing tobacco into pellets.

I have my tobacco shop owner order Stonewalls in cartons of 5 packs of 20 each. I use a carton a week.

These harm reduction alternatives to cigarettes are being opposed with the familiar rallying cry of "save the children." It seems some nicotine-addicted teens are using snus and dissolvables all day while in school. Since these aren't attention-getting like smoking a cigarette, use can be kept secret from authorities, who want the kids to either stop or die.

[Kitabz]

I use my e-cig and Stonewall dissolvables about equally.

Can I ask why you use one over the other at certain times of day?

Why not use one or the other exclusively, I'm guessing that each must have specific attributes that are preferable at different times/places?

[skullsoup432]

Two of my sons varsity baseball teammates got caught with Camel snus in their mouths during class. Someone narced on them. 2 days school, 6 bb games suspension. Next time, no senior trip, no more baseball. I knew that the school was cracking down, but damn. When I was in school, you got caught with smokes, they took them away and called your parents.
My son was in a fist fight in school, each (again both jocks) got 1 day suspension. I guess tobacco is worst than violence in the authorities mind.

[Mohave]

When I was in school, you got caught with smokes, they took them away and called your parents.

When I was in high school there were ashtrays at the entrances and a designated smoking area.

[smokingclam]

When I was in high school there were ashtrays at the entrances and a designated smoking area.

Wow I got caught in high school and I got a 3 day suspension. That was 30 years ago. I should have went to your school.

[TropicalBob]

Can I ask why you use one over the other at certain times of day?

Happy to answer this. In the morning, I wake up with a dry mouth .. typical. I pop in a Stonewall, which tastes delicious to me, and it initiates saliva production. If I e-smoke, it further dries my mouth and throat at that early hour. But I reach for the e-cig shortly afterward, as the Stonewall dissolves and I drink that first cup of coffee.

I do NOT whip out the e-cig in public places like a restaurant, where it could easily be confused with banned cigarette smoking. I do not want to upset other customers or management. It is much, much easier to finish a meal and pop in a Stonewall, until I'm outside and can use the e-cig without consequences.

The e-cig has never supplied me with enough nicotine, not even steadily puffing on 36mg liquid. Strangely, the pipe smoking does. It can almost knock me out all by itself. Snus can make me ill if I use a high-nic version. I have no real idea why e-smoking is inadequate for me yet others report going to a hospital with overdose symptoms. I cannot and will not attempt to explain it. We are all .. different.

I use snus all day, beginning after coffee. It's either Stonewall or snus, and almost always an e-cig at the same time. The only time I use only one is when I'm pipe smoking. Nothing else is needed. But of course that cannot be done publicly, which keeps me ordering snus and Stonewall!

[Kitabz]

Happy to answer this.<snip>

Wow, thanks for a very detailed response.

I read somewhere recently that you were only a 30-a-day smoker, that's not so much (and it surprised me when I read it - I'd always assumed from your other posts that you were a former chain-smoker, i.e, 60+ per day).

The e-cig has never supplied me with enough nicotine, not even steadily puffing on 36mg liquid. Strangely, the pipe smoking does.

Do you inhale the pipe smoke then?
FWIW, I think that the nicotine spike from "wet" vapour is slower (but possibly longer lasting) than dry smoke which is why getting a nicotine hit - in the burning tobacco sense at least - doesn't seem to be possible no matter how high the mg.