[ Just paste broken links shown in purple directly into your browser - the extra line doesn't matter. Pls. PM me if you have more recent info. about proposed/actual legislation, if you think I've missed an important story, or if you want more tweaks to the formatting program. ]
1) Austin MN final passage hearing on vaping=smoking indoor clean air act ext. April 7; Baytown TX first reading April 10. See below.
2) Simple minor sales/possession bans advance: FL's SB 224 passes Sen. and is now ready for the house; LA's SB 12 is now ready for the full sen.
3) Los Angeles Community College bans vaping everywhere on campus, Pacific U. in OR planning to do the same; TX A&M bans vaping w/i 50 ft. of doorways (but still permits it on campus property).
4) Heath Canada to survey sales of vaping products as a first step towards regulation.
5) MN Health Dep't issues press release on poison control center calls - MN papers (and even AP) use headlines that confuse the existence of calls with actual poisonings (see collection at end).
6) Scottish physicians call for indoor vaping ban.
Coverage: UK, Ireland, Canada, US States: NJ, PA, FL, MS, LA, MI, WI, TX, AZ, CA, AK
Also: Dr. Siegel on another horrid THS ("third hand smoke") study; .... Puddlecote on the UK's ASA decision to ban an advertisement; and Gary Cox on the 7% of Irish smokers who have quit.
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: BIll Godshall's Letter/Testimony Regarding MD
(ECF)
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...g-devices-hearing-march-5-a.html#post12447155
This is a great example of a letter that hits all the issues in clean air act extension ordinances or legislation. There are a few paragraphs that might not be appropriate for some municipal ordinances.
Title: Tobacco Control Science Deteriorating to an All-Time Low
(Dr. Seigel's blog)
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/tobacco-control-science-deteriorating.html
Yes, there's a new study out on THR ("third hand smoke"). And it's dreadful.
Title: E-Cigarettes Begorrah
(ECF's InfoZone)
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/e-cigarettes-begorrah.html
Gary Cox celebrates St. Paddy's by highlighting figures from Ireland, which show that 50,000 Irish smokers have made the switch to vaping. [Article in the Irish Independent was reported on this space on the 12th.]
Title: Research & Commentary: E-Cigarette Regulation in Ohio
(Heartland Inst., conservative think tank)
http://heartland.org/policy-documents/e-cigarette-regulation-ohio
Greg Conley's tax and regulation discussion/link index
Title: E-Cig Ad Whac-A-Mole
(Richard PUddlecote's Blog)
http://dickpuddlecote.blogspot.com/2014/03/e-cig-ad-whac-mole.html
Response to UK's Advertising Standards Agency's ruling that an ad for Ten Motives had to be pulled because the ASH [Action on Smoking and Health] article indicating that vaping is not as dangerous as tobacco smoking cited by the ad didn't refer specifically to Ten Motives' product. See story reported in this space on 3/12: http://www.theguardian
.com/media/2014/mar/12/e-cigarette-ad-banned-heath-ten-motives
***
UK
Title: Sales set to light up at e-cig maker CN Creative
(Manchester MCH UK local paper) http://www.manchestereveningnews
.co.uk/business/manchester-based-cn-creative-company-behind-6766944
Junk-free story on profitability and Manchester-based operations of CN Creative (makers of Intellicig and also manufactures Vype for BAT).
Title: GPs want no e-cigarettes used in public
(H/C professionals news amalgam site) http://www.onmedica
.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=eac5ba12-a396-49ba-b780-7ece6997df3f
No junk. At a British Med. Assn. meeting ...
"[Scottish] delegates passed a motion calling on the Scottish Government to include e-cigarettes within the products banned from use in enclosed public places; prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18 years; and ensure that e-cigarettes are only displayed for sale alongside other nicotine replacement therapies."
Also contains this interesting section:
"GPs also said they were concerned about the possibility that using e-cigarettes could strengthen people’s dependency on smoking, rather than helping them to break the habit, because the way in which they are used is so similar to that for ‘normal’ cigarettes - and they said more research must be done to answer that question. Dr Colette Maule, a negotiator for the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee, said: 'We welcomed the decision by the MHRA to regulate all nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes. We now need to press for more research which looks at both the efficacy and health implications of e-cigarettes. It is really important that we find out if the hand to mouth use of e-cigarettes either breaks or reinforces smoking behaviours. We need to know if e-cigarettes actually help smokers quit.'"
***
IRELAND
Title: Time to clear the air over use of e-cigarettes
(Ireland Nat'l Paper) http://www.irishexaminer
.com/ireland/time-to-clear-the-air-over-use-of-e-cigarettes-262309.html
This piece manages to say everything and nothing at the same time. General survey, doesn't contain much in the way of scientific "junk." It does contrast the fall in tobacco cigarette sales with the rise in the value of the vaping market. Apparently Ireland doesn't yet regulate vaping in any way (even sales to minors are still legal). I was particularly struck by this amazingly mild statement from ASH Ireland:
"Chairman of Ash Ireland and consultant respiratory physician Dr Ross Morgan said while there was some debate on the whether or not e-cigarettes help reduce smoking, the involvement of the tobacco industry in the production and, more importantly, their marketing was worrying. 'There will be some concerns that the tobacco giants are investing heavily in the e-cigarette industry and, based on past experience, they will have little interest in the quitting potential of this product, he said."
***
CANADA
Title: Health Canada moves to get read on e-cigarette use
(Ottawa ON Ca. local paper) http://www.calgaryherald
.com/news/ottawa/Health+Canada+moves+read+cigarette/9631913/story.html
Health Canada to award a C$232K contract to the Canadian subsidiary of Nielsen to provide survey data on the sale of vaping devices:
"Health Canada said the data will give the department up-to-date information on the number and type of e-cigarettes and nicotine-replacement therapy products sold in retail outlets, the companies involved and sales trends. The information will support ongoing work by the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy 'to track tobacco-related trends and emerging issues and commitment to continue the downward trend in smoking prevalence in Canada,' Health Canada said. [para break omitted]"
No junk in story, although it implies that HC has been "cracking down" on vape stores, and ordering them not to sell e-liquid cartridges with nic. in them. However as I understand it, this has had little effect.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: States push to regulate, tax booming e-cigarette industry
(Fox - US Nat'l Mew Network) http://www.foxnews
.com/politics/2014/03/18/states-push-to-regulate-tax-booming-e-cigarette-industry/
General survey article about state interest in taxing vaping products, with a focus on MN, WA, and NJ. Junk is here:
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vapor from e-cigarettes has 'far fewer of the toxins found in smoke compared to traditional cigarettes.' However, the Atlanta-based agency says it’s too soon to say how much of a health benefit the alternative to traditional cigarettes offers. Both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Tim McAfee, CDC’s director of Smoking and Health, says while it’s reasonably certain that if someone who smokes a pack a day switched completely to e-cigarettes it could represent a health benefit, there are still many 'caveats and buts' around that."
Title: New Competitors Enter, Threatening Lorillard's Dominance in the E-cig Sector
(US Investment site) http://www.fool
.com/investing/general/2014/03/18/new-competitors-enter-threatening-lorillards-domin.aspx
No junk. The foolish takeaway:
"So far Lorillard has dominated the nation's e-cig market as it has lacked any serious competition. However, with both Reynolds American and Altria commencing national roll-outs of their e-cig offerings during the next few months, things could soon get much harder for the country's smallest tobacco company."
---
US: NEW JERSEY
Title: Letter: Electronic cigarettes put kids, teens, in harm's way
(Woodbury NJ US local paper) http://www.nj
.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/letter_electronic_cigarettes_put_kids_teens_in_harms_way.html
Letter in reply to Greg Conley's article about Gov. Christie's proposed sin tax on vaping. Letter-writer quotes extensively from a scurrilous ANTZ-written hit job piece (an opinion which merited Your Correspondent's rare rating of a "perfect ANTZ hit job" in the 3/9/14 media summary).
[ NJ's house bill A1080 was originally proposed as a ban on tobacco smoking in parks and beaches, but was immediately ammended to include vaping as soon as it got on to the house floor. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-all-public-parks-beaches.html#post12349761
Also, Gov. Christie says he wants to tax vaping at the same rate as analogs:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ual-2-70-pack-cigarette-tax.html#post12450301
And:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/03/call-to-action-new-jerseys-governor.html ]
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Why e-cigarettes should be banned from minors [in the "healthy kids" area]
(Philadelphia PA US ind. web site) http://www.philly
.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Why-e-cigarettes-should-be-banned-from-minors.html#eJoSHl8eviUVX2gY.99
What's so revealing about this reprehensible opinion piece filed by an ANTZ MD is that the issue of teen tobacco smoking is used as a point of departure for every possible anti-vaping proposal imaginable. This should be no surprise to any vaper, particularly those of us who keep up with the media, but it's about as close to a textbook case as there is.
Item: because nicotine is allegedly addictive (and therefore we must assume that it's dangerous without any evidence), that means e-cigarettes must be dangerous.
Item: since e-cigarettes are dangerous, we must do everything we can do, to keep them out of the hands of minors. That means we should tax them at the same rate as we tax tobacco cigarettes, and we must ensure that children do not see adults using them - to the greatest extent possible.
Item: since e-cigareetes are dangerous, we must assume that chldren are attracted to them.
Granted, the piece does offer some evidence, such as junk science concerning heavy metals and so forth (we've seen all that), but then goes on to say this about why we should assume nicotine is dangerous:
"I have seen newborn babies born to mothers who smoke (or just have a nicotine patch) get very irritable, shaky and breathe rapidly seeming like babies withdrawing from ....... You rarely have to treat these babies, but it often takes a day or two before they look or act like normal, healthy babies. About 18 percent of pregnant women in Pennsylvania smoke and their babies are born with carbon monoxide levels so high and oxygen levels so low that a doctor who did not know about the smoking exposure would think that they were in a house fire and hospitalize them."
Item: Because e-cigarettes are dangerous and some have nicotine, we can ascribe all the dangers of smoking to them.
The last sentence tells us all we need to know about this tactic:
"It’s time for Pennsylvania to get on board and curb the usage of e-cigarettes by our children and teens.
(It's interesting to observe that not one word in the piece addresses the potential value of vaping as a THR/cessation tool (other than the allegation that they are "marketed as a way to stop smoking"). Which makes sense, because vaping is the same thing as smoking tobacco cigarettes, as far as the author is concerned - except that it could be more dangerous (the author refuses to comment). All in all, another classic hit job piece with carefully-selected factiods that's intended to mislead the ignorant. After all, the writer is an MD, so he must know what he's talking about. Save the children!
[ PA's SB 1055, a simple minor sales/possession ban, has passed the sen. and is now in the house. ]
Title: Nicotine con job: The state must protect against faux cigarettes
(Pittsburgh PA US local paper) http://www.post-gazette
.com/opinion/2014/03/18/Nicotine-con-job/stories/201403130152#ixzz2wMlNk1lD
Unimaginative opinion piece cites the Dutra&Glantz junk statistics study for the idea that vaping is a gateway to tobacco cigarette use among teens, and urges passage of PA's simple minor possession/sales ban, SB 1055.
Title: Regulate e-cigarettes
(Pottsville PA US local paper) http://republicanherald.com/opinion/regulate-e-cigarettes-1
.1652149
Similar to above
Title: East Stroudsburg store offers flavored alternative in e-cigs
(Stroudsburg PA US local paper) http://www.poconorecord
.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140318/NEWS/403180324
Brief story in which local vape store owner is interviewed. He does a good job of arguming that flavors play a critical role when former smokers become vapers, because they make vaping more pleasureable. No junk in the piece until the end, which consists of a boilerplate ALA quote from their web site. Perhaps either the writer or her editor felt that this was necessary in order to achieve "balance."
---
US: FLORIDA
Title: Senate votes to ban e-cigarette sales to minors
(AP) http://www.miamiherald
.com/2014/03/18/4002445/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette.html
http://www.naplesnews
.com/news/2014/mar/18/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors/
http://www.heraldtribune
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189678
http://www.myfoxorlando
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
http://www.abc-7
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
http://www.nbc-2
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
FL's SB 224, a simple minor sales/possession ban, approved by Sen. Equivalent house bill is still in cmte. No junk.
Title: Gray area about where e-cigs can be used
(Tampa FL US local paper) http://tbo
.com/news/business/gray-area-about-where-e-cigs-can-be-used-20140318/
General survey of local business' policies on indoor vaping by customers (no discussion of employees). Your correspondent was suprised to learn that Tampa Int'l Airport still permits vaping indors - most airports have banned outdoor vaping on every portio of their property, including parking lots. The reporter did their homework, and closed with the FDA's helpful advice:
"The Food and Drug Administration has other opinions. 'They turn chemicals, including highly addictive nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user,' the FDA states on its public education website about e-cigarettes. 'E-cigarettes have not been fully studied so consumers currently don't know: The potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or if there are any benefits associated with using these products.' By way of warning would-be vapers, the FDA recently posted hundreds of reports from individuals suffering reactions to e-cigarettes. Among the problems: pneumonia, congestive heart failure, disorientation and seizures."
---
US: MISSISSIPPI
Title: E-cigarette issue under evaluation
(Desoto Co. MS US local paper) http://www.desototimes
.com/articles/2014/03/18/news/doc5327a5b833b4e088392535.txt
This piece seems to contradict an article out of a Memphis TN CBS affiliate that was covered yesterday - the CBS story implied that the DeSoto MS co. supervisors had already decided to treat vaping as smoking in county buildings and their curtilage. This junk-free article appears to be about the future policy, and indicates that it will depend on FDA regulation. For the original story, see: http://wreg
.com/2014/03/17/desoto-supervisors-outlaw-e-cigarettes-in-county-buildings/
[ All efforts to extend the indoor clean air act and/or to otherwise regulate vaping in MS appear to have died this year. Please PM me if you know differently. ]
---
US: LOUISIANA
Title: Senate Committee to Consider E-Cigarette Bill
(Monroe LA US NBC affiliate) http://www.myarklamiss
.com/story/d/story/senate-committee-to-consider-e-cigarette-bill/23785/NGgKrsytyEu5kI6awKrmAQ
Brief note that LA's SB 12, a simple minor sales/possession ban, is out of cmte, and ready for the sen. floor.
Title: Bill would ban e-cigarette sales to minors in La.
(AP) http://www.newsdaily
.com/united-states/d7a6cbc5dddf96f96671d4c37f983c89/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-la
http://www.theledger
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189888
http://neworleanscitybusiness
.com/blog/2014/03/18/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-louisiana/
http://www.heraldtribune
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189678
http://kpel965
.com/senate-bill-would-prohibit-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors/
http://www.houmatoday
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189888?Title=Bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-La-
http://www.mysanantonio
.com/news/article/Bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-La-5326419.php
AP version of the above, junk-free.
---
US: MINNESOTA
Title: E-cigarette measure fails first reading
(Austin MN US local paper) http://www.austindailyherald
.com/2014/03/e-cigarette-moratorium-fails-first-reading-at-city-council/
Title: Austin Debating e-Cigarette Moratorium [1 Yr. Clean Indoor Air Act Ext. for (Austin, MN US ABC affiliate)
http://www.kaaltv
.com/article/stories/S3365017.shtml
[April 7th meeting to decide final status of the proposed indoor/outdoor vaping=smoking ban.]
Combination of two stories. Basic facts are that ALA rep (see below) is pushing the City Of Austin MN to adopt a vaping=smoking extension to its indoor clean air act. Yesterday, the proposed ord. failed to achieve a unanimous vote on a first reading, although it got 4 out of 7 votes (I believe one council member was absent). The ALA's involvement and their tactics were described by the daily paper (Austin Daily Herald):
"Monday’s vote came after several local health experts pleaded with the council to enact the moratorium and prevent people from using e-cigarettes in public as health officials across the nation have yet to find out what’s inside them. E-cigarettes have been on the market for about five years and haven’t undergone thorough testing by the Food and Drug Administration. They are filled with an unknown amount of nicotine and other chemicals that are heated to produce vapor inhaled through the e-cigarette. E-cigarettes are technically considered a tobacco product and therefore are illegal for minors to Purchase. Yet there’s little regulation on where or how they can be sold, according to county health officials and a member of the American Lung Association, who gave a presentation on e-cigarettes to the council last month. 'It’s not just harmless water vapor,' Debra Skare, a tobacco treatment specialist, told the council. 'There are chemicals in there.' Skare shared stories from her patients, some of whom tried to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. She said patients have told her e-cigarettes have caused several issues, from burned throats and an overdose of nicotine to one husband who caused his wife to have several asthma attacks whenever he exhaled e-cigarette vapor into the room. [para breaks omitted, boldface added.]"
It turns out that Debra Skare's title (according to LinkedIn) is: "Tobacco Cessation, Coordinator at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin".
Here's some more information from the ABC affiliate's story:
"'You're still getting that nicotine and obviously the nicotine can be very addictive,' added Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger. 'As well as looking at these side effects because there's really not a lot of research on what are the long-term, short term effects of those,' said drug task force member Lea Oelfke. 'They have a lot of candy flavored cigarettes, bubble gum and other candy flavors, so obviously I think it's geared toward the youth,' police chief Brian Krueger said. 'The ingredients used in e-cigarettes are not monitored per se, so as a healthy alternative it's difficult for us to say that's an alternative we would support," Lea Oelfke said." [Para breaks omitted][/I]
Turns out that at least one of the four votes that allowed the measure to move forward to another "second reading," at which it's expected to pass, came from a council member who said he changed his vote to favor the ban, because (allegedly) so little is known. The story concludes with this rather ominous comment:
"Though some council members say the state’s decision will render local discussion moot, proponents of an e-cigarette moratorium say Austin’s decision could positively affect state and federal public policy, similar to the council’s decision several years ago to put pseudoephedrine, a chemical used in methamphatmine, behind the counter at area stores. 'Austin has been innovative in the past,' [Councilwoman] Anderson [who voted for the vaping ban] said. 'That in turn can influence the state legislature. If enough cities do something, maybe it’ll motivate them to take action more quickly.'[para breaks omitted.]"
Your correspondent has to wonder whether Ms. Skare will appear at the state legislature's hearings, to tell her heart-rending patient stories. (If you attend, remember to bring your tissue paper.)
[ Threats in MN are: HF 1974: Minor sales ban and extends clean indoor act to cover vaping, still in 1st house cmte (health & human svcs), and may have ammended to remove the indoor clean air act ext (?).
SF SF 2027: Same as HF 1974, except indoor clean air act extension is still there. Out of sen. local gov't cmte, now in sen. commerce cmte. (last: 3/13)
For MN vapers updates, see: http://mnvapers.com/
and the MN Vapers FB page for organizing: http://www.facebook.com/groups/MNVapersAdvocacy/
And: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-minnesota-e-cigarette.html ]
Title: Vapers, sellers, cities adapt with tobacco-free e-cigarettes
(St. Cloud MN US local paper) http://www.sctimes
.com/article/20140318/NEWS01/303180016/Vapers-sellers-cities-adapt-tobacco-free-e-cigarettes
"Alicia Bauman, coordinator of Smoke Free Communities in Central Minnesota, has worked with communities to adopt policies to regulate the sale and use of e-cigarettes. She said requiring businesses to have tobacco licenses means cities can conduct compliance checks and make sure they aren’t selling to minors. It’s a policy many cities are adopting. Bauman also wants to see e-cigarette use banned from public places [...] Bauman said the e-cigarette vapor, what she calls aerosol, can contain nicotine, ultrafine particles and low levels of toxins that are known to cause cancer. She said not a lot of testing has been done on e-cigarettes, so not a lot is known about them.(Boldface added, para breaks omitted]"
The (relatively) good news is that the City of St. Cloud is waiting to see what the state does. However as you can see, your tax dollars are most likely paying for lobbying. Vape store owner was quoted extensively in this piece, and gets the last word.
---
US: WISCONSIN
Title: E-cigarette exemption bill garners mixed reaction from local advocates, legislators
(Appleton WI US area Gannet collection site) http://www.thenorthwestern
.com/article/20140318/OSH0101/303180323/E-cigarette-exemption-bill-garners-mixed-reaction-from-local-advocates-legislators
General article on WI's SB 440 and AB 762 which are the only live bills anywhere in the US that would explicitly exclude vaping from indoor clean air acts (perhaps anywhere in the world?). Quotes vape shop owners and some vapers who have quit. And then we get:
"Not so fast, says Anna Carpenter, coordinator of the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network and a health educator with the Winnebago County Health Department. 'We aren’t 100 percent sure whether they’re (harmless),' Carpenter said. “The fact that they’re not regulated by a federal agency is a huge warning sign for us.' And even though the makers and sellers of the devices, including Zaretzke, say they only have trace amounts of chemicals such as vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine and various flavoring, Carpenter said a lack of government regulation, along with the fact there haven’t been any studies of the long-term effects of the devices, does not ensure that each product coincides with the promised compositions or what the actual effects are. In addition, there is no long-term research that shows using e-cigarettes help smokers quit, Carpenter said. (para breaks omitted, boldface added)
[ WI has two bills that would explicitly exempt from the state Indoor Clean Air Act, which CASAA strongly supports: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-updated-support.html Also see report by Kirstin: http://wivapers.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-two-days-in-wisconsins-capitol.html and: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...6240-wisconsin-updates-wisconsin-updates.html ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Baytown proposes to restrict where you can use E-cigarettes
(Houston TX US NBC affiliate) http://www.click2houston
.com/news/baytown-proposes-to-restrict-where-you-can-use-ecigarettes/25027116
Brief story on Baytown TX's April 10 City Council meeting to discuss proposed ordinance which would treat vaping as smoking. No junk other than the odd quote from a resident who basically says "a cigarette is a cigarette."
[ TX's legislature is out of session for the year, unless Gov. Perry calls for a special session. ]
Title: University policy to now include e-cigarettes
(Amarillo TX US ABC affiliate) http://www.connectamarillo
.com/news/story.aspx?id=1020135#.UyjpiM5obfg
W. TX A&M policy now bans vaping indoors and establishes a 50-ft. perimeter around doorways. (Your correspondent isn't aware of any larger perimeter, although 25-ft. perimeters are common among municipalities. Perhaps next year we'll see the distance increase. That said, WTAMU is relatively rare among institutions of higher education in the US in that it permits any outdoor vaping.) Vape store owner interviewed, and story cites Drexel study.
"But for WTAMU officials it's more of a distraction, than it is a health concern. 'E-cigs to my knowledge put off a scent,' Student Body President Leif Thomas said. 'The ban is meant to keep things as fair as possible for students, and to be honest it's not that big of a change.'"
(A student body pres. is an "official" of the U??)
---
US: ARIZONA
Title: E-cig market lacks public disclaimers, advertising to youth
(AZ St. U. Student Paper) http://www.statepress
.com/2014/03/17/e-cig-market-lacks-public-disclaimers-advertising-to-youth/
Brain-dead student written editorial, states that vaping is being marketed to children, and quotes Glantz as saying that PV vapor "contain" ultrafine particles, volatile organic compounds, and metals.
[ No known threats in AZ legislature ]
---
US: OREGON
Title: Pacific University considers banning smoking on all campuses, proposed policy headed to President's Cabinet
(Portland OR US local paper) http://www.oregonlive
.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2014/03/pacific_university_considers_b.html
Another US higher educational institution bans all use of tobacco products everywhere on its property. No junk in the piece, just this blurb:
"The goal of the ban is to 'create an environment that is consistent with Pacific University’s commitment to improve the health and wellness of its community,' according to the policy statement."
[ OR legislature is no longer in session. ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: Los Angeles Community College District restricts e-cigarettes
(Torrance CA US local paper) http://www.dailybreeze
.com/contact-us
LA Comm. College dist. established a campuswide indoor/outdoor vaping ban.
"Board Vice President Scott Svonkin, who proposed the change, described e-cigarette use as a 'public health crisis’ and a 'growing epidemic among young people.’ 'No one should be forced to breathe the vapor e-cigarettes emit,' Svonkin said. 'We are proud to lead the effort to protect those we serve.’ [para break omitted; boldface added]"
[ CA is under threat from a wide variety of legislation, such as an internet sales ban: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-shipment-e-cigarettes-anyone-california.html ]
---
US: ALASKA
Title: My Turn: E-cig restrictions unreasonable, premature
(Juneau, AK US local paper) http://juneauempire.com/opinion/2014-03-18/my-turn-e-cig-restrictions-unreasonable-premature#
.UyjVI85obfg
Pro-vaping opinion that urges AK to wait for FDA action before passing an indoor/outdoor vaping=smoking ban. Doesn't really take on the junk.
[ AL's SB168 would explicitly exempt vaping from its indoor smoking ban, minor sales ban already in effect. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ld-ban-smoking-but-not-vaping-workplaces.html ]
***
COLLECTION: POISON CONTROL CENTER CALL STORIES FROM MINNESOTA
MN Dept of Health issues press release on poison control center calls due to vaping. The Star-Tribune provides the helpful headline that you see below, and even AP decided to refer to these as "case." Your Correspondent has to wonder whether these press releases occur on some kind of regular schedule, or whether the Health Dep't had noticed that several bills are now pending in the state legislature. Is this "lobbying" of elected officials? Guess not.
Title: Poisoning by e-cigarette fluid up sharply among kids, Minn. report says
(Twin Cities MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/lifestyle/health/250820261.html
Title: Poison control center says cases involving e-cigarette juice rise sharply in 2013
(AP via Twin Cities MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/lifestyle/health/250808021.html@
http://minnesota.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/18/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharpl http://www.twincities
.com/news/ci_25366858/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharply
http://www.wdio
.com/article/stories/S3365832.shtml
http://www.winonadailynews
.com/news/state-and-regional/mn/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharply/article_0679ff3f-c795-5e1f-a232-4c4118fa460a.html
http://www.therepublic
.com/w/MN--E-Cigarette-Poisoning
***
Google Tips
to see whether there are bad things happening where you live, try this Google search (example for Rhode Island) -
rhode site:casaa.org
(Replace rhode with a single word that describes your city, county, or state. For ex., if you live in Eau Claire, WI - you might use "Claire" to see if something is being proposed at the city level. Don't forget the : (colon), and be sure that there's nothing before or after the colon (not even spaces or tabs.)
You can also try replacing site:casaa.org with e-cigarette to find out what the media is reporting in your area. This is usually most helpful if you use the search tools to search by date. (CASAA doesn't generally issue calls or alerts until a bill is out of a state legislative committee, or is scheduled for a local city or county hearing.)
1) Austin MN final passage hearing on vaping=smoking indoor clean air act ext. April 7; Baytown TX first reading April 10. See below.
2) Simple minor sales/possession bans advance: FL's SB 224 passes Sen. and is now ready for the house; LA's SB 12 is now ready for the full sen.
3) Los Angeles Community College bans vaping everywhere on campus, Pacific U. in OR planning to do the same; TX A&M bans vaping w/i 50 ft. of doorways (but still permits it on campus property).
4) Heath Canada to survey sales of vaping products as a first step towards regulation.
5) MN Health Dep't issues press release on poison control center calls - MN papers (and even AP) use headlines that confuse the existence of calls with actual poisonings (see collection at end).
6) Scottish physicians call for indoor vaping ban.
Coverage: UK, Ireland, Canada, US States: NJ, PA, FL, MS, LA, MI, WI, TX, AZ, CA, AK
Also: Dr. Siegel on another horrid THS ("third hand smoke") study; .... Puddlecote on the UK's ASA decision to ban an advertisement; and Gary Cox on the 7% of Irish smokers who have quit.
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: BIll Godshall's Letter/Testimony Regarding MD
(ECF)
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...g-devices-hearing-march-5-a.html#post12447155
This is a great example of a letter that hits all the issues in clean air act extension ordinances or legislation. There are a few paragraphs that might not be appropriate for some municipal ordinances.
Title: Tobacco Control Science Deteriorating to an All-Time Low
(Dr. Seigel's blog)
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/tobacco-control-science-deteriorating.html
Yes, there's a new study out on THR ("third hand smoke"). And it's dreadful.
Title: E-Cigarettes Begorrah
(ECF's InfoZone)
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/e-cigarettes-begorrah.html
Gary Cox celebrates St. Paddy's by highlighting figures from Ireland, which show that 50,000 Irish smokers have made the switch to vaping. [Article in the Irish Independent was reported on this space on the 12th.]
Title: Research & Commentary: E-Cigarette Regulation in Ohio
(Heartland Inst., conservative think tank)
http://heartland.org/policy-documents/e-cigarette-regulation-ohio
Greg Conley's tax and regulation discussion/link index
Title: E-Cig Ad Whac-A-Mole
(Richard PUddlecote's Blog)
http://dickpuddlecote.blogspot.com/2014/03/e-cig-ad-whac-mole.html
Response to UK's Advertising Standards Agency's ruling that an ad for Ten Motives had to be pulled because the ASH [Action on Smoking and Health] article indicating that vaping is not as dangerous as tobacco smoking cited by the ad didn't refer specifically to Ten Motives' product. See story reported in this space on 3/12: http://www.theguardian
.com/media/2014/mar/12/e-cigarette-ad-banned-heath-ten-motives
***
UK
Title: Sales set to light up at e-cig maker CN Creative
(Manchester MCH UK local paper) http://www.manchestereveningnews
.co.uk/business/manchester-based-cn-creative-company-behind-6766944
Junk-free story on profitability and Manchester-based operations of CN Creative (makers of Intellicig and also manufactures Vype for BAT).
Title: GPs want no e-cigarettes used in public
(H/C professionals news amalgam site) http://www.onmedica
.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=eac5ba12-a396-49ba-b780-7ece6997df3f
No junk. At a British Med. Assn. meeting ...
"[Scottish] delegates passed a motion calling on the Scottish Government to include e-cigarettes within the products banned from use in enclosed public places; prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18 years; and ensure that e-cigarettes are only displayed for sale alongside other nicotine replacement therapies."
Also contains this interesting section:
"GPs also said they were concerned about the possibility that using e-cigarettes could strengthen people’s dependency on smoking, rather than helping them to break the habit, because the way in which they are used is so similar to that for ‘normal’ cigarettes - and they said more research must be done to answer that question. Dr Colette Maule, a negotiator for the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee, said: 'We welcomed the decision by the MHRA to regulate all nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes. We now need to press for more research which looks at both the efficacy and health implications of e-cigarettes. It is really important that we find out if the hand to mouth use of e-cigarettes either breaks or reinforces smoking behaviours. We need to know if e-cigarettes actually help smokers quit.'"
***
IRELAND
Title: Time to clear the air over use of e-cigarettes
(Ireland Nat'l Paper) http://www.irishexaminer
.com/ireland/time-to-clear-the-air-over-use-of-e-cigarettes-262309.html
This piece manages to say everything and nothing at the same time. General survey, doesn't contain much in the way of scientific "junk." It does contrast the fall in tobacco cigarette sales with the rise in the value of the vaping market. Apparently Ireland doesn't yet regulate vaping in any way (even sales to minors are still legal). I was particularly struck by this amazingly mild statement from ASH Ireland:
"Chairman of Ash Ireland and consultant respiratory physician Dr Ross Morgan said while there was some debate on the whether or not e-cigarettes help reduce smoking, the involvement of the tobacco industry in the production and, more importantly, their marketing was worrying. 'There will be some concerns that the tobacco giants are investing heavily in the e-cigarette industry and, based on past experience, they will have little interest in the quitting potential of this product, he said."
***
CANADA
Title: Health Canada moves to get read on e-cigarette use
(Ottawa ON Ca. local paper) http://www.calgaryherald
.com/news/ottawa/Health+Canada+moves+read+cigarette/9631913/story.html
Health Canada to award a C$232K contract to the Canadian subsidiary of Nielsen to provide survey data on the sale of vaping devices:
"Health Canada said the data will give the department up-to-date information on the number and type of e-cigarettes and nicotine-replacement therapy products sold in retail outlets, the companies involved and sales trends. The information will support ongoing work by the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy 'to track tobacco-related trends and emerging issues and commitment to continue the downward trend in smoking prevalence in Canada,' Health Canada said. [para break omitted]"
No junk in story, although it implies that HC has been "cracking down" on vape stores, and ordering them not to sell e-liquid cartridges with nic. in them. However as I understand it, this has had little effect.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: States push to regulate, tax booming e-cigarette industry
(Fox - US Nat'l Mew Network) http://www.foxnews
.com/politics/2014/03/18/states-push-to-regulate-tax-booming-e-cigarette-industry/
General survey article about state interest in taxing vaping products, with a focus on MN, WA, and NJ. Junk is here:
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vapor from e-cigarettes has 'far fewer of the toxins found in smoke compared to traditional cigarettes.' However, the Atlanta-based agency says it’s too soon to say how much of a health benefit the alternative to traditional cigarettes offers. Both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Tim McAfee, CDC’s director of Smoking and Health, says while it’s reasonably certain that if someone who smokes a pack a day switched completely to e-cigarettes it could represent a health benefit, there are still many 'caveats and buts' around that."
Title: New Competitors Enter, Threatening Lorillard's Dominance in the E-cig Sector
(US Investment site) http://www.fool
.com/investing/general/2014/03/18/new-competitors-enter-threatening-lorillards-domin.aspx
No junk. The foolish takeaway:
"So far Lorillard has dominated the nation's e-cig market as it has lacked any serious competition. However, with both Reynolds American and Altria commencing national roll-outs of their e-cig offerings during the next few months, things could soon get much harder for the country's smallest tobacco company."
---
US: NEW JERSEY
Title: Letter: Electronic cigarettes put kids, teens, in harm's way
(Woodbury NJ US local paper) http://www.nj
.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/letter_electronic_cigarettes_put_kids_teens_in_harms_way.html
Letter in reply to Greg Conley's article about Gov. Christie's proposed sin tax on vaping. Letter-writer quotes extensively from a scurrilous ANTZ-written hit job piece (an opinion which merited Your Correspondent's rare rating of a "perfect ANTZ hit job" in the 3/9/14 media summary).
[ NJ's house bill A1080 was originally proposed as a ban on tobacco smoking in parks and beaches, but was immediately ammended to include vaping as soon as it got on to the house floor. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-all-public-parks-beaches.html#post12349761
Also, Gov. Christie says he wants to tax vaping at the same rate as analogs:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ual-2-70-pack-cigarette-tax.html#post12450301
And:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/03/call-to-action-new-jerseys-governor.html ]
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Why e-cigarettes should be banned from minors [in the "healthy kids" area]
(Philadelphia PA US ind. web site) http://www.philly
.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Why-e-cigarettes-should-be-banned-from-minors.html#eJoSHl8eviUVX2gY.99
What's so revealing about this reprehensible opinion piece filed by an ANTZ MD is that the issue of teen tobacco smoking is used as a point of departure for every possible anti-vaping proposal imaginable. This should be no surprise to any vaper, particularly those of us who keep up with the media, but it's about as close to a textbook case as there is.
Item: because nicotine is allegedly addictive (and therefore we must assume that it's dangerous without any evidence), that means e-cigarettes must be dangerous.
Item: since e-cigarettes are dangerous, we must do everything we can do, to keep them out of the hands of minors. That means we should tax them at the same rate as we tax tobacco cigarettes, and we must ensure that children do not see adults using them - to the greatest extent possible.
Item: since e-cigareetes are dangerous, we must assume that chldren are attracted to them.
Granted, the piece does offer some evidence, such as junk science concerning heavy metals and so forth (we've seen all that), but then goes on to say this about why we should assume nicotine is dangerous:
"I have seen newborn babies born to mothers who smoke (or just have a nicotine patch) get very irritable, shaky and breathe rapidly seeming like babies withdrawing from ....... You rarely have to treat these babies, but it often takes a day or two before they look or act like normal, healthy babies. About 18 percent of pregnant women in Pennsylvania smoke and their babies are born with carbon monoxide levels so high and oxygen levels so low that a doctor who did not know about the smoking exposure would think that they were in a house fire and hospitalize them."
Item: Because e-cigarettes are dangerous and some have nicotine, we can ascribe all the dangers of smoking to them.
The last sentence tells us all we need to know about this tactic:
"It’s time for Pennsylvania to get on board and curb the usage of e-cigarettes by our children and teens.
(It's interesting to observe that not one word in the piece addresses the potential value of vaping as a THR/cessation tool (other than the allegation that they are "marketed as a way to stop smoking"). Which makes sense, because vaping is the same thing as smoking tobacco cigarettes, as far as the author is concerned - except that it could be more dangerous (the author refuses to comment). All in all, another classic hit job piece with carefully-selected factiods that's intended to mislead the ignorant. After all, the writer is an MD, so he must know what he's talking about. Save the children!
[ PA's SB 1055, a simple minor sales/possession ban, has passed the sen. and is now in the house. ]
Title: Nicotine con job: The state must protect against faux cigarettes
(Pittsburgh PA US local paper) http://www.post-gazette
.com/opinion/2014/03/18/Nicotine-con-job/stories/201403130152#ixzz2wMlNk1lD
Unimaginative opinion piece cites the Dutra&Glantz junk statistics study for the idea that vaping is a gateway to tobacco cigarette use among teens, and urges passage of PA's simple minor possession/sales ban, SB 1055.
Title: Regulate e-cigarettes
(Pottsville PA US local paper) http://republicanherald.com/opinion/regulate-e-cigarettes-1
.1652149
Similar to above
Title: East Stroudsburg store offers flavored alternative in e-cigs
(Stroudsburg PA US local paper) http://www.poconorecord
.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140318/NEWS/403180324
Brief story in which local vape store owner is interviewed. He does a good job of arguming that flavors play a critical role when former smokers become vapers, because they make vaping more pleasureable. No junk in the piece until the end, which consists of a boilerplate ALA quote from their web site. Perhaps either the writer or her editor felt that this was necessary in order to achieve "balance."
---
US: FLORIDA
Title: Senate votes to ban e-cigarette sales to minors
(AP) http://www.miamiherald
.com/2014/03/18/4002445/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette.html
http://www.naplesnews
.com/news/2014/mar/18/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors/
http://www.heraldtribune
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189678
http://www.myfoxorlando
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
http://www.abc-7
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
http://www.nbc-2
.com/story/25007382/senate-votes-to-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors
FL's SB 224, a simple minor sales/possession ban, approved by Sen. Equivalent house bill is still in cmte. No junk.
Title: Gray area about where e-cigs can be used
(Tampa FL US local paper) http://tbo
.com/news/business/gray-area-about-where-e-cigs-can-be-used-20140318/
General survey of local business' policies on indoor vaping by customers (no discussion of employees). Your correspondent was suprised to learn that Tampa Int'l Airport still permits vaping indors - most airports have banned outdoor vaping on every portio of their property, including parking lots. The reporter did their homework, and closed with the FDA's helpful advice:
"The Food and Drug Administration has other opinions. 'They turn chemicals, including highly addictive nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user,' the FDA states on its public education website about e-cigarettes. 'E-cigarettes have not been fully studied so consumers currently don't know: The potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or if there are any benefits associated with using these products.' By way of warning would-be vapers, the FDA recently posted hundreds of reports from individuals suffering reactions to e-cigarettes. Among the problems: pneumonia, congestive heart failure, disorientation and seizures."
---
US: MISSISSIPPI
Title: E-cigarette issue under evaluation
(Desoto Co. MS US local paper) http://www.desototimes
.com/articles/2014/03/18/news/doc5327a5b833b4e088392535.txt
This piece seems to contradict an article out of a Memphis TN CBS affiliate that was covered yesterday - the CBS story implied that the DeSoto MS co. supervisors had already decided to treat vaping as smoking in county buildings and their curtilage. This junk-free article appears to be about the future policy, and indicates that it will depend on FDA regulation. For the original story, see: http://wreg
.com/2014/03/17/desoto-supervisors-outlaw-e-cigarettes-in-county-buildings/
[ All efforts to extend the indoor clean air act and/or to otherwise regulate vaping in MS appear to have died this year. Please PM me if you know differently. ]
---
US: LOUISIANA
Title: Senate Committee to Consider E-Cigarette Bill
(Monroe LA US NBC affiliate) http://www.myarklamiss
.com/story/d/story/senate-committee-to-consider-e-cigarette-bill/23785/NGgKrsytyEu5kI6awKrmAQ
Brief note that LA's SB 12, a simple minor sales/possession ban, is out of cmte, and ready for the sen. floor.
Title: Bill would ban e-cigarette sales to minors in La.
(AP) http://www.newsdaily
.com/united-states/d7a6cbc5dddf96f96671d4c37f983c89/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-la
http://www.theledger
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189888
http://neworleanscitybusiness
.com/blog/2014/03/18/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-louisiana/
http://www.heraldtribune
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189678
http://kpel965
.com/senate-bill-would-prohibit-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors/
http://www.houmatoday
.com/article/20140318/APN/303189888?Title=Bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-La-
http://www.mysanantonio
.com/news/article/Bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-La-5326419.php
AP version of the above, junk-free.
---
US: MINNESOTA
Title: E-cigarette measure fails first reading
(Austin MN US local paper) http://www.austindailyherald
.com/2014/03/e-cigarette-moratorium-fails-first-reading-at-city-council/
Title: Austin Debating e-Cigarette Moratorium [1 Yr. Clean Indoor Air Act Ext. for (Austin, MN US ABC affiliate)
http://www.kaaltv
.com/article/stories/S3365017.shtml
[April 7th meeting to decide final status of the proposed indoor/outdoor vaping=smoking ban.]
Combination of two stories. Basic facts are that ALA rep (see below) is pushing the City Of Austin MN to adopt a vaping=smoking extension to its indoor clean air act. Yesterday, the proposed ord. failed to achieve a unanimous vote on a first reading, although it got 4 out of 7 votes (I believe one council member was absent). The ALA's involvement and their tactics were described by the daily paper (Austin Daily Herald):
"Monday’s vote came after several local health experts pleaded with the council to enact the moratorium and prevent people from using e-cigarettes in public as health officials across the nation have yet to find out what’s inside them. E-cigarettes have been on the market for about five years and haven’t undergone thorough testing by the Food and Drug Administration. They are filled with an unknown amount of nicotine and other chemicals that are heated to produce vapor inhaled through the e-cigarette. E-cigarettes are technically considered a tobacco product and therefore are illegal for minors to Purchase. Yet there’s little regulation on where or how they can be sold, according to county health officials and a member of the American Lung Association, who gave a presentation on e-cigarettes to the council last month. 'It’s not just harmless water vapor,' Debra Skare, a tobacco treatment specialist, told the council. 'There are chemicals in there.' Skare shared stories from her patients, some of whom tried to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. She said patients have told her e-cigarettes have caused several issues, from burned throats and an overdose of nicotine to one husband who caused his wife to have several asthma attacks whenever he exhaled e-cigarette vapor into the room. [para breaks omitted, boldface added.]"
It turns out that Debra Skare's title (according to LinkedIn) is: "Tobacco Cessation, Coordinator at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin".
Here's some more information from the ABC affiliate's story:
"'You're still getting that nicotine and obviously the nicotine can be very addictive,' added Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger. 'As well as looking at these side effects because there's really not a lot of research on what are the long-term, short term effects of those,' said drug task force member Lea Oelfke. 'They have a lot of candy flavored cigarettes, bubble gum and other candy flavors, so obviously I think it's geared toward the youth,' police chief Brian Krueger said. 'The ingredients used in e-cigarettes are not monitored per se, so as a healthy alternative it's difficult for us to say that's an alternative we would support," Lea Oelfke said." [Para breaks omitted][/I]
Turns out that at least one of the four votes that allowed the measure to move forward to another "second reading," at which it's expected to pass, came from a council member who said he changed his vote to favor the ban, because (allegedly) so little is known. The story concludes with this rather ominous comment:
"Though some council members say the state’s decision will render local discussion moot, proponents of an e-cigarette moratorium say Austin’s decision could positively affect state and federal public policy, similar to the council’s decision several years ago to put pseudoephedrine, a chemical used in methamphatmine, behind the counter at area stores. 'Austin has been innovative in the past,' [Councilwoman] Anderson [who voted for the vaping ban] said. 'That in turn can influence the state legislature. If enough cities do something, maybe it’ll motivate them to take action more quickly.'[para breaks omitted.]"
Your correspondent has to wonder whether Ms. Skare will appear at the state legislature's hearings, to tell her heart-rending patient stories. (If you attend, remember to bring your tissue paper.)
[ Threats in MN are: HF 1974: Minor sales ban and extends clean indoor act to cover vaping, still in 1st house cmte (health & human svcs), and may have ammended to remove the indoor clean air act ext (?).
SF SF 2027: Same as HF 1974, except indoor clean air act extension is still there. Out of sen. local gov't cmte, now in sen. commerce cmte. (last: 3/13)
For MN vapers updates, see: http://mnvapers.com/
and the MN Vapers FB page for organizing: http://www.facebook.com/groups/MNVapersAdvocacy/
And: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-minnesota-e-cigarette.html ]
Title: Vapers, sellers, cities adapt with tobacco-free e-cigarettes
(St. Cloud MN US local paper) http://www.sctimes
.com/article/20140318/NEWS01/303180016/Vapers-sellers-cities-adapt-tobacco-free-e-cigarettes
"Alicia Bauman, coordinator of Smoke Free Communities in Central Minnesota, has worked with communities to adopt policies to regulate the sale and use of e-cigarettes. She said requiring businesses to have tobacco licenses means cities can conduct compliance checks and make sure they aren’t selling to minors. It’s a policy many cities are adopting. Bauman also wants to see e-cigarette use banned from public places [...] Bauman said the e-cigarette vapor, what she calls aerosol, can contain nicotine, ultrafine particles and low levels of toxins that are known to cause cancer. She said not a lot of testing has been done on e-cigarettes, so not a lot is known about them.(Boldface added, para breaks omitted]"
The (relatively) good news is that the City of St. Cloud is waiting to see what the state does. However as you can see, your tax dollars are most likely paying for lobbying. Vape store owner was quoted extensively in this piece, and gets the last word.
---
US: WISCONSIN
Title: E-cigarette exemption bill garners mixed reaction from local advocates, legislators
(Appleton WI US area Gannet collection site) http://www.thenorthwestern
.com/article/20140318/OSH0101/303180323/E-cigarette-exemption-bill-garners-mixed-reaction-from-local-advocates-legislators
General article on WI's SB 440 and AB 762 which are the only live bills anywhere in the US that would explicitly exclude vaping from indoor clean air acts (perhaps anywhere in the world?). Quotes vape shop owners and some vapers who have quit. And then we get:
"Not so fast, says Anna Carpenter, coordinator of the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network and a health educator with the Winnebago County Health Department. 'We aren’t 100 percent sure whether they’re (harmless),' Carpenter said. “The fact that they’re not regulated by a federal agency is a huge warning sign for us.' And even though the makers and sellers of the devices, including Zaretzke, say they only have trace amounts of chemicals such as vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine and various flavoring, Carpenter said a lack of government regulation, along with the fact there haven’t been any studies of the long-term effects of the devices, does not ensure that each product coincides with the promised compositions or what the actual effects are. In addition, there is no long-term research that shows using e-cigarettes help smokers quit, Carpenter said. (para breaks omitted, boldface added)
[ WI has two bills that would explicitly exempt from the state Indoor Clean Air Act, which CASAA strongly supports: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-updated-support.html Also see report by Kirstin: http://wivapers.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-two-days-in-wisconsins-capitol.html and: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...6240-wisconsin-updates-wisconsin-updates.html ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Baytown proposes to restrict where you can use E-cigarettes
(Houston TX US NBC affiliate) http://www.click2houston
.com/news/baytown-proposes-to-restrict-where-you-can-use-ecigarettes/25027116
Brief story on Baytown TX's April 10 City Council meeting to discuss proposed ordinance which would treat vaping as smoking. No junk other than the odd quote from a resident who basically says "a cigarette is a cigarette."
[ TX's legislature is out of session for the year, unless Gov. Perry calls for a special session. ]
Title: University policy to now include e-cigarettes
(Amarillo TX US ABC affiliate) http://www.connectamarillo
.com/news/story.aspx?id=1020135#.UyjpiM5obfg
W. TX A&M policy now bans vaping indoors and establishes a 50-ft. perimeter around doorways. (Your correspondent isn't aware of any larger perimeter, although 25-ft. perimeters are common among municipalities. Perhaps next year we'll see the distance increase. That said, WTAMU is relatively rare among institutions of higher education in the US in that it permits any outdoor vaping.) Vape store owner interviewed, and story cites Drexel study.
"But for WTAMU officials it's more of a distraction, than it is a health concern. 'E-cigs to my knowledge put off a scent,' Student Body President Leif Thomas said. 'The ban is meant to keep things as fair as possible for students, and to be honest it's not that big of a change.'"
(A student body pres. is an "official" of the U??)
---
US: ARIZONA
Title: E-cig market lacks public disclaimers, advertising to youth
(AZ St. U. Student Paper) http://www.statepress
.com/2014/03/17/e-cig-market-lacks-public-disclaimers-advertising-to-youth/
Brain-dead student written editorial, states that vaping is being marketed to children, and quotes Glantz as saying that PV vapor "contain
[ No known threats in AZ legislature ]
---
US: OREGON
Title: Pacific University considers banning smoking on all campuses, proposed policy headed to President's Cabinet
(Portland OR US local paper) http://www.oregonlive
.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2014/03/pacific_university_considers_b.html
Another US higher educational institution bans all use of tobacco products everywhere on its property. No junk in the piece, just this blurb:
"The goal of the ban is to 'create an environment that is consistent with Pacific University’s commitment to improve the health and wellness of its community,' according to the policy statement."
[ OR legislature is no longer in session. ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: Los Angeles Community College District restricts e-cigarettes
(Torrance CA US local paper) http://www.dailybreeze
.com/contact-us
LA Comm. College dist. established a campuswide indoor/outdoor vaping ban.
"Board Vice President Scott Svonkin, who proposed the change, described e-cigarette use as a 'public health crisis’ and a 'growing epidemic among young people.’ 'No one should be forced to breathe the vapor e-cigarettes emit,' Svonkin said. 'We are proud to lead the effort to protect those we serve.’ [para break omitted; boldface added]"
[ CA is under threat from a wide variety of legislation, such as an internet sales ban: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-shipment-e-cigarettes-anyone-california.html ]
---
US: ALASKA
Title: My Turn: E-cig restrictions unreasonable, premature
(Juneau, AK US local paper) http://juneauempire.com/opinion/2014-03-18/my-turn-e-cig-restrictions-unreasonable-premature#
.UyjVI85obfg
Pro-vaping opinion that urges AK to wait for FDA action before passing an indoor/outdoor vaping=smoking ban. Doesn't really take on the junk.
[ AL's SB168 would explicitly exempt vaping from its indoor smoking ban, minor sales ban already in effect. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ld-ban-smoking-but-not-vaping-workplaces.html ]
***
COLLECTION: POISON CONTROL CENTER CALL STORIES FROM MINNESOTA
MN Dept of Health issues press release on poison control center calls due to vaping. The Star-Tribune provides the helpful headline that you see below, and even AP decided to refer to these as "case." Your Correspondent has to wonder whether these press releases occur on some kind of regular schedule, or whether the Health Dep't had noticed that several bills are now pending in the state legislature. Is this "lobbying" of elected officials? Guess not.
Title: Poisoning by e-cigarette fluid up sharply among kids, Minn. report says
(Twin Cities MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/lifestyle/health/250820261.html
Title: Poison control center says cases involving e-cigarette juice rise sharply in 2013
(AP via Twin Cities MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/lifestyle/health/250808021.html@
http://minnesota.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/18/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharpl http://www.twincities
.com/news/ci_25366858/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharply
http://www.wdio
.com/article/stories/S3365832.shtml
http://www.winonadailynews
.com/news/state-and-regional/mn/poisonings-from-e-cigarette-liquid-up-sharply/article_0679ff3f-c795-5e1f-a232-4c4118fa460a.html
http://www.therepublic
.com/w/MN--E-Cigarette-Poisoning
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Google Tips
to see whether there are bad things happening where you live, try this Google search (example for Rhode Island) -
rhode site:casaa.org
(Replace rhode with a single word that describes your city, county, or state. For ex., if you live in Eau Claire, WI - you might use "Claire" to see if something is being proposed at the city level. Don't forget the : (colon), and be sure that there's nothing before or after the colon (not even spaces or tabs.)
You can also try replacing site:casaa.org with e-cigarette to find out what the media is reporting in your area. This is usually most helpful if you use the search tools to search by date. (CASAA doesn't generally issue calls or alerts until a bill is out of a state legislative committee, or is scheduled for a local city or county hearing.)
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