[ 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. ]
3/14/14 BREAKING: HI threat reduced; AL bill dead; Tahlequah OK; Prof. Hughes on EU TPD; Bogus? Spain pneumonia story; EU, Spain, US: NJ,PA,AL,MN,OK,UT,WA,HI
1) AL bill which would exempt vaping from the state's indoor clean air act has died in committee, little chance for revival this year.
2) Likely-bogus story out of Spain (AFP = France's AP) regarding patient who allegedly contracted a minor case of pneumonia from vaping (attributed to VG).
3) Tahlequah OK, which tabled a vaping=smoking indoor/outdoor vaping ban last year, is revisiting the issue, with OK state MSA settlement grants being dangled as an incentive. Hearing is March 24.
4) Is Yakima WA coming under pressure for being the largest (and only second) polity in the world to reject an extension to its indoor clean air act that would cover vaping? Mayor defends vote in local stories.
5) Threat in HI appears to be limited to extension of indoor clean air act - tax increase and flavor ban are apparently off the table. See:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/539566-latest-news-hawaii.html
6) Stories continue to emerge that faithfully echo and/or assume as fact the Tobacco Control Industry meme to the effect that teenagers are being deceptively sold vaporizors by BT in order to hook them on nicotine, and then these teens are "seven times more likely" to become regular tobacco cigarette smokers.
7) See US National section for the full Nat'l ...'n for Convenience and Food Retailing Official press release on its recommendation that vaping products not be sold to minors, even in juristictions where it's legal.
Coverage: EU, Spain, US States: NJ, PA, AL, MN, OK, UT, WA, HI
Also: Superb discussion from U. Leicester prof. Jason Hughes on the future effect of the EU TPD; Gary Cox on Imperial Tobacco's intellectual property suit filed against "clean hands" vaping manufacturers; new update lists on Bill G's site. See Jersey section below for Greg Conley's excellent editorial on Gov. Christie's proposed "sin tax" on vaping. Plus Siegel on Clive Barker's open letter to Glantz.
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COLLECTIONS
Collections (at end) cover recurring media stories, as well as old news plus cloned/syndicated or knocked-off pieces that gradually propagate through various outlets.
1) COLLECTION 1: MORE STORIES FROM "THE [MINOR GATEWAY] MEME" - i.e. BT deceptively markets vaping to minors, and as a result we will have a whole new generation of minors hooked on tobacco cigarettes.
2) COLLECTION 2: CT, PHILADELPHIA, WI, IA (CT's Gov. introduces simple minor sales/posession ban; Philly City Council Cmte unanimously recommends vaping=smoking extension to clean air act; WI's bill to exempt vaping from indoor clean air act; IA's simple minor ban advances.
3) OLLECTION 3: FDA TOO SLOW ON E-CIG. REGULATIONS / REGULATIONS OVERDUE (BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE. All stories begin with "Could someone please send the Food and Drug Administration a copy of the latest study on teenagers and e-cigarettes? The agency obviously needs a push to come out with its overdue regulations." References last week's junk science Dutra & Glantz JAMA paper.
4) COLLECTION 4: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors? (Last week's AP story and will probably be with us for another week or so.)
5) COLLECTION 5: TOBACCO CONTROL INDUSTRY MINOR GATEWAY MEME - EVENTS TIMELINE (for those of you who want to catch up on the recently-built and widely-accepted "meme" which is now driving most vaping stories in one way or another).
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: [EU] Restrictions to e-cigarette use will be enforced due to social pressures rather than healthcare issues, says academic [Jason Hughes, of the U. Leicester]
(U. Leicester UK web site)
Restrictions to e-cigarette use will be enforced due to social pressures rather than healthcare issues, says academic — University of Leicester
This excellent audio lecture (summarized on the web page) should contain little surprising information for anyone who has been following the situation in the EU - particularly the likely future impact of the Tobacco Products Directive on the future of commercially-available vaping options, as well as public perceptions of vaping.
(Note to Judge Dredd: see buglet in link title algo: HTML deprecated "—" character entity not rendered.)
Title: Big Tobacco Goes After Independents
(ECF's InfoZone)
Big Tobacco Goes After Independents - ECF InfoZone
Gary Cox analyzes the patent infringement suit recently filed by Imperial Tobacco against a group of vaping manufacturers, only one of which (Lorillard/Blu) has ever been a BT company.
Title: Bill Godshall Updates
(Bill's site)
Bill Godshall - Tobacco Harm Reduction Updates
Bill's posted new updates and links on the front page of his site for those of you who are having trouble keeping track of what's been going on legislatively and otherwise recently. (BTW Your Correspondent has an outstanding request to ECF regarding reorganization of the legislation forum for the 2015 legislative season, on the grounds that stuff can be difficult to find there.)
Title: Cease and Desist: Clive Bates Tells Glantz to Stop Misrepresenting His Research on E-Cigarettes
(Dr. Siegel's blog)
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/cease-and-desist-clive-bates-tells.html
Dr. S. highlights Clive Barker's open letter to Glantz, re: junk Dutra & Glantz JAMA study (among other things).
***
SPAIN
Title: Spaniard gets pneumonia from e-cigarette abuse
(AFP) http://www.thelocal
.es/20140314/spanish-patient-gets-pneumonia-by-e-cigarettes http://www.globalpost
.com/dispatch/news/afp/140313/spain-patient-gets-pneumonia-e-cigarettes
This questionable-at-best story is out of AP/France: "'He was diagnosed with exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by an excessive use of electronic cigarette,' said the source at the A Coruna University Hospital, who asked not be named. The disease was caused by a vegetable-based ingredient in the replaceable cartridges that produce the vapour for inhalation, the source added. Doctors diagnosed the pneumonia 'a few days ago' and the patient has since been cured and discharged, the source said. 'According to the medical journals, it is the second case in the world of a breathing complaint related to consumption of electronic cigarettes.' The US specialist medical journal Chest in April 2012 recorded the case of a 42-year-old woman who also caught pneumonia from using e-cigarettes."
---
UK: MANCHESTER Title: E-Cigarette smoking indoors a grey area in Manchester nightlife [Comments requested]
(Manchester MCH UK local paper) http://www.manchestereveningnews
.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/e-cigarette-smoking-indoors--grey-6808101
General survey of local clubs' vaping policies - junk free. Comments are requested.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: Banning E-Cigarette Marketing to Kids
(US Nat'l Bus) http://www.businessweek
.com/articles/2014-03-13/senate-bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-marketing-to-kids
Although this article doesn't make the assumption that e-cigarettes "are marketed to children," it does cite the CDC stats on minors who have tried them, and the Dutra/Glatz JAMA paper's conclusion that such teens are "more likely to try" tobacco cigarettes (which is itself a confusion of correlation with causality). The writer then goes on to argue that the PCECAA may be doomed, because "... its not clear that Congress can dictate what colors a product can come in, how it tastes, or which ads are acceptable - particularly for those e-cigarettes that contain no nicotine," citing a '12 decision involving the overbroad nature of of a ban on billboards which advertise tobacco cigarettes. [PCECAA = Protecting Children From Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2014.] Your correspondent is dubious of the conclusion, because "overbroad" is not a synonym for per se unconstitutional: the overbreadth doctrine merely refers to how the government chooses to regulate an activity, rather than which activities are regulated.)
Title: NACS Issues Position Relating to E-Cigarette Sales
(Nat'l ...'n for Convenience and Food Retailing Official Site) http://www.nacsonline
.com/News/Daily/Pages/ND0314141.aspx#.UyLrA85obfg
Press release of the NACS doesn't define what an "e-cig" is (for one thing, it makes no ref. to whether nicotine need be in the liquid), nor does it specifically cite any justification for the policy, other than the "uncertain status of e-cigarettes." No junk.
Title: Retail group urges youth e-cigarette ban
(AP) http://wfirnews
.com/local-news/retail-group-urges-youth-e-cigarette-ban
This AP story provides even less detail, but it's the one that has been most widely disseminated. No junk.
Title: Are E-Cigarettes a Reasonable Accommodation?
(LexisNexus) http://www.lexisnexis
.com/legalnewsroom/labor-employment/b/labor-employment-top-blogs/archive/2014/03/13/are-e-cigarettes-a-reasonable-accommodation.aspx
I keep seeing this piece in my google searches, so I figured I'd review it. The tone and title would lead a casual reader to assume that it's intended to provide legal guidance to employers. In fact, it does no such thing. To be blunt: it provides little if any worthwhile content, and appears to have been written by someone who had the research skills of a tenth grader, and/or no more than twenty minutes to produce the result. The only things that I can say for it is that the writing is passable (as prose), and also that it appears to contain no junk.
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US: NEW JERSEY
Title: Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed [By CASAA's Greg Conley]
(NJ local paper amalgam site)
Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed | NJ.com
Excellent op-ed, worth a read.
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Phila. Lawmakers Move Toward Ban of E-Cigarettes in Public Places
(Philadelphia PA US local affiliate) http://philadelphia.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/13/phila-lawmakers-move-toward-ban-of-e-cigarettes-in-public-places/
Note that Dr. says that the problem is "renormalizing smoking" - what about the vapers who have quit? The public health dir. is lying of course. Testimony by Bill and by Dr. what's-his-name. Unanimous vote. See other stories below in COLLECTION 2.
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US: ALABAMA
Title: Smoking restrictions die in state Legislature
(AP) http://www.sandmountainreporter
.com/article_0e84d19c-aa38-11e3-8dc6-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm
AL bill to regulate both tobacco smoking and vaping dies in the House Health Cmte by a 4-7 vote. ACS argues that it had "too many exceptions." This is the only other bill in the country besides WI's SB440/AB762 which would've explicitly exempted vaping from an indoor clean air act. Bill's sponsor says that she intends to wait until next year to try. (AL legislature sessions are limited to 30 working days out of every 105 calendar days, and the current session began on 1/14/14.) No other anti-vaping laws appear to be pending in AL. H/t to ECF member Uma for the link.
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US: MINNESOTA
Title: E-Cig bill clears Senate committee
(Pierce Co. MN US local paper) http://www.piercecountyherald
.com/content/minnesota-news-roundup-e-cig-bill-clears-senate-committee
Brief report indicates that SF 2027 (extends clean air act to indoor/outdoor vaping) has cleared one sen. cmte, and is now in the next one. SF 2027 also includes a minor sales/possession ban.
[ Threats in MN are: HF 1974: Extends clean indoor act to cover vaping, still in 1st house cmte (health & human svcs)
SF 2027: Same as HF 1974, Out of sen. local gov't cmte, now in sen. commerce cmte. (last: 3/13)
For MN vapers updates, see: Minnesota Vapers Advocacy |Minnesota Vapers Advocacy
and the MN Vapers FB page for organizing: http://www.facebook.com/groups/MNVapersAdvocacy/
And: CASAA: Call to Action! Minnesota E-Cigarette Usage Ban ]
Title: Minnesota, Wisconsin taking opposite approach to e-cig regulations [Comments requested]
(Twin Cities MN US ind. web site)
Completely junk-free short piece asks for comments on the different legislative situations - MN wants to ban indoor vaping (and already imposes a high tax, which the article doesn't mention), and a WI senate panel just approved the CASAA-supported SB 440 (although it has little hope of being passed this year, since the session is coming close to an end: MN is a very different story).
---
US: OKLAHOMA
Title: City Council in Tahlequah, OK looks again at E-Cigarette ban [Vote March 24]
(OK City OK US local paper) http://city-sentinel
.com/2014/03/city-council-in-tahlequah-ok-looks-again-at-e-cigarette-ban/
Vote is March 24th
This is an amazingly balanced piece which doesn't cite one single bit of ANTZ junk, and which also does a very good job of reporting on the manner in which MSA (master tobacco settlement agreement) funds have been dangled in front of the City of Talequah's nose in exchange for passing anti-vaping legislation. Last year, Tahlequah tabled a proposed vaping=smoking ban, but is coming under increasing pressure from ANTZ orgs and the state of OK.
Also see (h/t to ECF member Swampergene):
http://watchdog
.org/119734/bribery-grants-e-cigs-brick-in-the-wall/
http://newsok
.com/oklahoma-communities-ban-e-cigarettes-with-grant-money-in-mind/article/3912005 OK:
[ SB 1892 is a mixed bag for proponents of smoke-free alternatives, because it raises the tax on Snus and other smokeless products, but exempts vaping. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...g-bills-introduced-oklahoma-hearing-held.html
and: Oklahoma -- OK! - ECF InfoZone OK also has S1602 - is it ready for the sen. floor? Same Q about H3104 (also minor sales ban?) ]
---
US: UTAH
Title: E-cigarettes hailed as safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, not everyone agrees
(SLC UT US local ABC affiliate) http://www.4utah
.com/story/d/story/e-cigarettes-hailed-as-safer-alternative-to-tradit/28392/ZOl_kUSTX02jJ6veZ_FGdA
Despicable interview with local MD, who plays an almost perfect ANTZ hand. In the piece we'll learn that: (1) vaping has no value as a method for THR or harm reduction; (2) minors who vape end up smoking tobacco; (3) "concern" that vaping will "renormalize" smoking; (4) vaping creates "more [cigarette] smoking" because vapers continue to smoke and don't quit; and (5) no evidence exists that vaping is safer than smoking tobacco cigarettes for either vapers or bystanders.
Although the anchor tried to coax the MD into suggesting that the MD is currently seeing patients who are experiencing health effects from vaping, the MD coyly responds that these issues are "tobacco related" (evidently the MD couldn't bring herself to explicitly deny that vaping has contributed to health issues among her patients). The other minor (relative) virtue of this piece is that the MD apparently didn't get the memo on volatile organic compounds, tin nanoparticles, and other heavy metals. Still, for a non-professional ANTZ, this was a fairly decent job, and ANTZ kudos also go to the producer (or was it the anchor?) for doing their best to get the MD to claim that existing patients are experiencing health effects from vaping. Overall both the MD and the anchor did their best (and a good job at that) to ensure that every otherwise-ignorant viewer of this piece would come away with the idea that 'electronic cigarettes' are really no different than another brand of tobacco cigarettes. Any major California network affiliate would be proud of the hit job done here.
Title: Smokers next door? Let the renter beware in Utah
(Ogden UT US local paper) http://www.standard
.net/stories/2014/03/12/smokers-next-door-let-renter-beware
Lori Greene (community health educator in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program with the Weber-Morgan Health Department) breezily explains that second hand smoke is the "third leading cause of preventable disease in the US." Article treats vaping as smoking, without so much as a syllable to imply that there's any distinction in terms of the exposure to "second hand [whatever]" experienced by neighboring tenants in a multi-unit building.
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US: WASHINGTON
Title: Sound Off for March 12th: Would you like to see a ban on E-Cigarettes? [COMMENTS REQUESTED]
(Spokane WA US CNN affiliate) http://www.kxly
.com/interactive/sound-off/sound-off-for-march-12th-would-you-like-to-see-a-ban-on-ecigarettes/24940256
Junk-free piece says nothing about vaping as such, simply asks for feedback on Yakima's decision. Amazingly, no one seems to have commented. Maybe there's some kind of software issue.
Title: Cawley Says Information Insufficient on E-Cigarettes
(Yakima WA US Fox affiliate) http://newstalkkit
.com/cawley-says-information-insufficient-on-e-cigarettes/
"Yakima Mayor Micah Cawley says he was not convinced electronic cigarettes needed to be nixed from the same areas where cigarettes are not allowed in public. The reason why Cawley says he voted against a proposal to regulate e-cigarettes at Tuesdays council meeting was what he did not know. 'When you dont have information that is backed up by some sort of substantial organization that has some authority on this, then theres still a question mark.' Cawley was on the side of the majority of the 4-3 vote that defeated the measure. Council woman Maureen Adkison says the city was not trying to impose an all-out ban. She says the city just wanted e-cigarettes regulated in the same areas regular cigarettes are banned in public. 'Just follow the rules that smokers have to follow. Thats all we were asking.'"
***
COLLECTION 1: MORE STORIES FROM "THE [MINOR GATEWAY] MEME"
If you've just started to catch up on what's going on, here's the meme that the Tobacco Control Industry has successfully created within the last few weeks.
Meme: E-cigarettes are being deliberately and deceptively marketed to teenagers by the tobacco industry. Once these minors use an e-cigarette, they are seven times more likely to become regular cigarette smokers. Since e-cigarette use is exploding among minors, this will lead to an explosion in the number of tobacco cigarette smokers.
The meme was created by many events - documented later in this post.
Today's media stories that arise from the meme are listed here ...
Title: Electronic cigarettes may encourage teens to smoke regular cigarettes - A large new study finds that the two behaviors go hand-in-hand
(Consumer Reports) http://www.consumerreports
.org/cro/news/2014/03/electronic-cigarettes-encourage-teens-to-smoke-regular-cigarettes/index.htm
Another dreadful CU piece.
Title: E-cigarettes as a gateway - Some adolescents may be taking their first drags on e-cigarettes
(Chico CA US local paper) http://www.newsreview
.com/chico/e-cigarettes-as-a-gateway/content?oid=12943823
Title: Are e-cigarette marketers ensnaring the next generation of teen smokers?
(US National Paper) http://www.csmonitor
.com/Commentary/Opinion/2014/0313/Are-e-cigarette-marketers-ensnaring-the-next-generation-of-teen-smokers
Utterly despicable. A virtually-perfect professional ANTZ hit job.
Title: E-cigarette industry shamelessly targeting teens
(NJ local paper amalgam site) http://www.northjersey
.com/opinion/e-cigarette-industry-shamelessly-targeting-teens-1.740404
Title: Board may toughen regulations against tobacco products
(N Andover MA US local paper) http://www.eagletribune
.com/local/x1387863154/Board-may-toughen-regulations-against-tobacco-products
Technically this is a story about a proposed minor sales ban. But the justification is the gateway effect.
Title: Protect kids from getting hooked on this deadly gateway drug: PennLive letters
(Harrisburg PA US local paper) http://www.pennlive
.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/e-cigarettes_gateway_drug_kids.html
Same as above, except MD writes to support PA's SB 1055, which is ready for the house floor. It's a simple minor ban.
***
COLLECTION 2: CT, PHILADELPHIA, WI, IA
Coverage of yesterday's news - mostly brief announcements with little junk (particularly the AP stories):
1) CT 24 introduced by Gov. is a simple minor sales ban.
2) Philadephia City Council Cmte unanimously refers vaping=smoking indoor clean air act ext. to full Council.
3) IA HF 2109 (formerly HSB 566), a simple minor sales/possession ban is ready for the full sen. (having passed the house).
4) WI SB 440 would specifically exempt vaping from the indoor clean air act, passed sen. cmte, but further action unlikely this year.
Title: [CT Gov.] Malloy seeks to ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors [AP]
http://www.myrecordjournal
.com/news/state/3919780-129/malloy-seeks-to-ban-sale-of-e-cigarettes-to-minors.html
Title: [CT gov.] Malloy Looks To Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors In Connecticut
(Norwalk CT local paper) http://norwalk.dailyvoice
.com/politics/malloy-looks-ban-e-cigarette-sales-minors-connecticut
Title: Bill Would Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors In Connecticut
(CT ind. collection site [?]) http://www.ctnewsfeed
.com/hartford/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-connecticut/
Title: [Philadelphia] City Council committee moves to restrict e-cigarettes
(Philadelphia PA local paper) http://www.philly
.com/philly/news/politics/20140314_City_Council_committee_moves_to_restrict_e-cigarettes.html
A general report on the blow-by-blow at the Philly hearings. As many of you know by now, the full Philly city council is going to hear the vaping=smoking extension at some point later this month (I don't believe a date has been set yet. For more on Philly, see:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...c-cigarettes-existing-indoor-smoking-ban.html
Title: Iowa panel supports e-cigarette ban for minors (AP)
http://www.news8000
.com/news/politics/Iowa-panel-supports-e-cigarette-ban-for-minors/24947178
Title: [WI] Senate committee approves e-cigarette exemption from smoking ban (WTAQ)
http://wdez
.com/news/articles/2014/mar/14/senate-committee-approves-e-cigarette-exemption-from-smoking-ban/ http://whbl
.com/news/articles/2014/mar/14/senate-committee-approves-e-cigarette-exemption-from-smoking-ban/
Title: [WI] State Senate panel backs bill allowing e-cigarettes indoors [AP]
http://www.greenbaypressgazette
.com/viewart/20140313/GPG0101/303130244/Legislators-consider-allowing-e-cigarettes-indoors
***
COLLECTION 3: FDA TOO SLOW ON E-CIG. REGULATIONS / REGULATIONS OVERDUE (BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE)
First published by Bloomberg News Service, this piece started in CT and is now migrating from the NE. At least two titles have been used so far, and more will likely come.
Look for the first line: "Could someone please send the Food and Drug Administration a copy of the latest study on teenagers and e-cigarettes? The agency obviously needs a push to come out with its overdue regulations." (Refers to the Dutra & Glantz study released last week which claims that e-cigarettes are a gateway for minors to tobacco smoking.)
Title: E-Cigarettes Pose Real Risks to Teens
http://www.businessweek
.com/articles/2014-03-13/e-cigarettes-pose-real-risks-to-teens
***
COLLECTION 4: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors?
This AP story has been making the rounds, at least two dozen syndicated copies have appeared in the last four days. Some of the clones have different titles, just look for the AP attribution and writer Leanne Italie's byline. I hope this entry out of Japan is the last we'll see of the clones.
http://www.japantimes
.co.jp/news/2014/03/13/world/e-cigarettes-fresh-air-or-just-smoke-and-mirrors/
Title: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors? [original story]
(AP - re: NYC) http://abcnews.go
.com/US/wireStory/cigarettes-fresh-air-smoke-mirrors-22845459
When I read the title of this story, I expected another "hidden dangers of e-cigarettes" piece - until I saw the AP byline. To my utter astonishment, there isn't one single paragraph in this story which quotes a rep. from any of the standards ANTZ orgs, or even a local MD. The closest it comes is to quoting CT Sen. Blumenthal who points out that "it's still smoking" (regardless, I suppose, of what's in the juice). In fact the first half of the article focuses on the cost of vaping, which doesn't necessarily compare all that favorably to smoking tobacco cigarettes (according to the author). The rest of the piece focuses on two vape shop owners' journey into vaping. A very refreshing break from all the usual garbage in the media.
[ NY has a vaping=smoking bill indoor ban now in the legislature. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-e-cigs-contain-tobacco-all-workplaces.html also tax bill: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-tax-e-cig-cartridges-75-wholesale-price.html ]
***
COLLECTION 5: TOBACCO CONTROL INDUSTRY MINOR GATEWAY MEME - EVENTS TIMELINE
In the future, I intend to keep incrementally augmenting this section to keep track of the gradual growth of the "meme," as a service to those readers who haven't been monitoring the day-by-day progress, as well as a way to evaluate the effectiveness that this meme is having, when it comes to determining how the world views the purpose and effect of vaping.
Meme: E-cigarettes are being deliberately and deceptively marketed to teenagers by the tobacco industry. Once these minors use an e-cigarette, they are seven times more likely to become regular cigarette smokers. Since e-cigarette use is exploding among minors, this will lead to an explosion in the number of tobacco cigarette smokers.
Event 1 - Feb 26: introduction of the Protecting Children From Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2014 (PCECAA) by a group of national US legislators - among them (most prominently) Sens. Boxer (CA), Schumer (NY), and Blumenthal (CT).
Result: Nationwide coverage premised on the idea that e-cigarettes are marketed to children because they are flavored and/or because of the imagery used to market them (depending on the source, this imagery is either celebrity endorsements, sexually titillating advertising, or cartoon characters).
Event 2 - Mar 4: Vape pens article in NYT introduces idea that kids are being lured by PVs which are not called "e-cigarettes" but which are marketed as "vape pens" and/or "e-hookahs" with attractive flavors in order to confuse teenagers.
Result: This piece also created a slew of outraged coverage across the US and overseas about the manner in which the "e-cigarette industry is targeting children."
Title: E-Cigarettes, by Other Names, Lure Young and Worry Experts
http://www.nytimes
.com/2014/03/05/business/e-cigarettes-under-aliases-elude-the-authorities.html
Event 3 - Mar 6: Dutra & Glantz paper published in JAMA Pediatrics which falsely claims (in some places) that the use of e-cigarettes is a causal factor in tobacco smoking, AKA a gateway effect: minors who use e-cigarettes are "seven times more likely" to become regular tobacco smokers.
http://archpedi.jamanetwork
.com/article.aspx?articleid=1840772 Criticized here for confusing causation with correlation: http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/conclusion-of-new-glantz-study-on.html [Also criticized by a number of Tobacco Control Organizations, such as the ACS:
Stanton Glantz is such a liar that even the ACS balks: his latest ecig gateway study | Anti-THR Lies and related topics
Result: This lead to hundreds of media stories around the world in which e-cigarettes were "linked" with increasing tobacco smoking among young people (despite the fact that these rates have dropped dramatically during the 2011-12 period in question). Paper:
Event 4 - Mar 9: NY Sen. Schumer issues a press release, in which he expresses outrage that e-cigarettes are being marketed to children, who are "seven times more likely" to become tobacco smokers - citing the Mar. 6th JAMA paper.
Result: This press release generated scores of articles around the world:
Title: Schumer Looks To Snuff Out E-Cigarette Marketing To Kids
(NYC CBS affiliate) http://newyork.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/09/schumer-looks-to-snuff-out-e-cigarette-marketing-to-kids/
Event 5 - Mar 10: CT Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. DeLauro hold a news conf. and issue a press release in which they re-iterate the points made in Schumer's earlier press release, and emphasize the issues cited in the March 4th NYT article concerning "vape pens" and "e-hookahs."
Title: Blumenthal, DeLauro: E-hookahs attractive, dangerous, and marketed to children
(Republished from NH Register, New Haven CT local paper) http://www.middletownpress
.com/general-news/20140310/blumenthal-delauro-e-hookahs-attractive-dangerous-and-marketed-to-children
Result: Once again, this received wide and admiring coverage around the US, and in some cases overseas.
Event 6 - Mar 11: IA Sen Harkin and several other sponsoring Sen.s of the PCECAA mail letter to White House, calling for the FDA to release regulations the that FDA originally proposed last fall (but which were rejected by the Office of Management and Budget as too burdensome).
http://www.nationaljournal
.com/library/123450
Result: As of this writing, there are no press reports about this letter - but no news conf. has been called, nor (?) has a press release been issued. Stay tuned for this to generate another hundred stories or so when it does.
***
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.)
3/14/14 BREAKING: HI threat reduced; AL bill dead; Tahlequah OK; Prof. Hughes on EU TPD; Bogus? Spain pneumonia story; EU, Spain, US: NJ,PA,AL,MN,OK,UT,WA,HI
1) AL bill which would exempt vaping from the state's indoor clean air act has died in committee, little chance for revival this year.
2) Likely-bogus story out of Spain (AFP = France's AP) regarding patient who allegedly contracted a minor case of pneumonia from vaping (attributed to VG).
3) Tahlequah OK, which tabled a vaping=smoking indoor/outdoor vaping ban last year, is revisiting the issue, with OK state MSA settlement grants being dangled as an incentive. Hearing is March 24.
4) Is Yakima WA coming under pressure for being the largest (and only second) polity in the world to reject an extension to its indoor clean air act that would cover vaping? Mayor defends vote in local stories.
5) Threat in HI appears to be limited to extension of indoor clean air act - tax increase and flavor ban are apparently off the table. See:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/539566-latest-news-hawaii.html
6) Stories continue to emerge that faithfully echo and/or assume as fact the Tobacco Control Industry meme to the effect that teenagers are being deceptively sold vaporizors by BT in order to hook them on nicotine, and then these teens are "seven times more likely" to become regular tobacco cigarette smokers.
7) See US National section for the full Nat'l ...'n for Convenience and Food Retailing Official press release on its recommendation that vaping products not be sold to minors, even in juristictions where it's legal.
Coverage: EU, Spain, US States: NJ, PA, AL, MN, OK, UT, WA, HI
Also: Superb discussion from U. Leicester prof. Jason Hughes on the future effect of the EU TPD; Gary Cox on Imperial Tobacco's intellectual property suit filed against "clean hands" vaping manufacturers; new update lists on Bill G's site. See Jersey section below for Greg Conley's excellent editorial on Gov. Christie's proposed "sin tax" on vaping. Plus Siegel on Clive Barker's open letter to Glantz.
***
COLLECTIONS
Collections (at end) cover recurring media stories, as well as old news plus cloned/syndicated or knocked-off pieces that gradually propagate through various outlets.
1) COLLECTION 1: MORE STORIES FROM "THE [MINOR GATEWAY] MEME" - i.e. BT deceptively markets vaping to minors, and as a result we will have a whole new generation of minors hooked on tobacco cigarettes.
2) COLLECTION 2: CT, PHILADELPHIA, WI, IA (CT's Gov. introduces simple minor sales/posession ban; Philly City Council Cmte unanimously recommends vaping=smoking extension to clean air act; WI's bill to exempt vaping from indoor clean air act; IA's simple minor ban advances.
3) OLLECTION 3: FDA TOO SLOW ON E-CIG. REGULATIONS / REGULATIONS OVERDUE (BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE. All stories begin with "Could someone please send the Food and Drug Administration a copy of the latest study on teenagers and e-cigarettes? The agency obviously needs a push to come out with its overdue regulations." References last week's junk science Dutra & Glantz JAMA paper.
4) COLLECTION 4: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors? (Last week's AP story and will probably be with us for another week or so.)
5) COLLECTION 5: TOBACCO CONTROL INDUSTRY MINOR GATEWAY MEME - EVENTS TIMELINE (for those of you who want to catch up on the recently-built and widely-accepted "meme" which is now driving most vaping stories in one way or another).
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: [EU] Restrictions to e-cigarette use will be enforced due to social pressures rather than healthcare issues, says academic [Jason Hughes, of the U. Leicester]
(U. Leicester UK web site)
Restrictions to e-cigarette use will be enforced due to social pressures rather than healthcare issues, says academic — University of Leicester
This excellent audio lecture (summarized on the web page) should contain little surprising information for anyone who has been following the situation in the EU - particularly the likely future impact of the Tobacco Products Directive on the future of commercially-available vaping options, as well as public perceptions of vaping.
(Note to Judge Dredd: see buglet in link title algo: HTML deprecated "—" character entity not rendered.)
Title: Big Tobacco Goes After Independents
(ECF's InfoZone)
Big Tobacco Goes After Independents - ECF InfoZone
Gary Cox analyzes the patent infringement suit recently filed by Imperial Tobacco against a group of vaping manufacturers, only one of which (Lorillard/Blu) has ever been a BT company.
Title: Bill Godshall Updates
(Bill's site)
Bill Godshall - Tobacco Harm Reduction Updates
Bill's posted new updates and links on the front page of his site for those of you who are having trouble keeping track of what's been going on legislatively and otherwise recently. (BTW Your Correspondent has an outstanding request to ECF regarding reorganization of the legislation forum for the 2015 legislative season, on the grounds that stuff can be difficult to find there.)
Title: Cease and Desist: Clive Bates Tells Glantz to Stop Misrepresenting His Research on E-Cigarettes
(Dr. Siegel's blog)
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/cease-and-desist-clive-bates-tells.html
Dr. S. highlights Clive Barker's open letter to Glantz, re: junk Dutra & Glantz JAMA study (among other things).
***
SPAIN
Title: Spaniard gets pneumonia from e-cigarette abuse
(AFP) http://www.thelocal
.es/20140314/spanish-patient-gets-pneumonia-by-e-cigarettes http://www.globalpost
.com/dispatch/news/afp/140313/spain-patient-gets-pneumonia-e-cigarettes
This questionable-at-best story is out of AP/France: "'He was diagnosed with exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by an excessive use of electronic cigarette,' said the source at the A Coruna University Hospital, who asked not be named. The disease was caused by a vegetable-based ingredient in the replaceable cartridges that produce the vapour for inhalation, the source added. Doctors diagnosed the pneumonia 'a few days ago' and the patient has since been cured and discharged, the source said. 'According to the medical journals, it is the second case in the world of a breathing complaint related to consumption of electronic cigarettes.' The US specialist medical journal Chest in April 2012 recorded the case of a 42-year-old woman who also caught pneumonia from using e-cigarettes."
---
UK: MANCHESTER Title: E-Cigarette smoking indoors a grey area in Manchester nightlife [Comments requested]
(Manchester MCH UK local paper) http://www.manchestereveningnews
.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/e-cigarette-smoking-indoors--grey-6808101
General survey of local clubs' vaping policies - junk free. Comments are requested.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: Banning E-Cigarette Marketing to Kids
(US Nat'l Bus) http://www.businessweek
.com/articles/2014-03-13/senate-bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-marketing-to-kids
Although this article doesn't make the assumption that e-cigarettes "are marketed to children," it does cite the CDC stats on minors who have tried them, and the Dutra/Glatz JAMA paper's conclusion that such teens are "more likely to try" tobacco cigarettes (which is itself a confusion of correlation with causality). The writer then goes on to argue that the PCECAA may be doomed, because "... its not clear that Congress can dictate what colors a product can come in, how it tastes, or which ads are acceptable - particularly for those e-cigarettes that contain no nicotine," citing a '12 decision involving the overbroad nature of of a ban on billboards which advertise tobacco cigarettes. [PCECAA = Protecting Children From Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2014.] Your correspondent is dubious of the conclusion, because "overbroad" is not a synonym for per se unconstitutional: the overbreadth doctrine merely refers to how the government chooses to regulate an activity, rather than which activities are regulated.)
Title: NACS Issues Position Relating to E-Cigarette Sales
(Nat'l ...'n for Convenience and Food Retailing Official Site) http://www.nacsonline
.com/News/Daily/Pages/ND0314141.aspx#.UyLrA85obfg
Press release of the NACS doesn't define what an "e-cig" is (for one thing, it makes no ref. to whether nicotine need be in the liquid), nor does it specifically cite any justification for the policy, other than the "uncertain status of e-cigarettes." No junk.
Title: Retail group urges youth e-cigarette ban
(AP) http://wfirnews
.com/local-news/retail-group-urges-youth-e-cigarette-ban
This AP story provides even less detail, but it's the one that has been most widely disseminated. No junk.
Title: Are E-Cigarettes a Reasonable Accommodation?
(LexisNexus) http://www.lexisnexis
.com/legalnewsroom/labor-employment/b/labor-employment-top-blogs/archive/2014/03/13/are-e-cigarettes-a-reasonable-accommodation.aspx
I keep seeing this piece in my google searches, so I figured I'd review it. The tone and title would lead a casual reader to assume that it's intended to provide legal guidance to employers. In fact, it does no such thing. To be blunt: it provides little if any worthwhile content, and appears to have been written by someone who had the research skills of a tenth grader, and/or no more than twenty minutes to produce the result. The only things that I can say for it is that the writing is passable (as prose), and also that it appears to contain no junk.
---
US: NEW JERSEY
Title: Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed [By CASAA's Greg Conley]
(NJ local paper amalgam site)
Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed | NJ.com
Excellent op-ed, worth a read.
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Phila. Lawmakers Move Toward Ban of E-Cigarettes in Public Places
(Philadelphia PA US local affiliate) http://philadelphia.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/13/phila-lawmakers-move-toward-ban-of-e-cigarettes-in-public-places/
Note that Dr. says that the problem is "renormalizing smoking" - what about the vapers who have quit? The public health dir. is lying of course. Testimony by Bill and by Dr. what's-his-name. Unanimous vote. See other stories below in COLLECTION 2.
---
US: ALABAMA
Title: Smoking restrictions die in state Legislature
(AP) http://www.sandmountainreporter
.com/article_0e84d19c-aa38-11e3-8dc6-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm
AL bill to regulate both tobacco smoking and vaping dies in the House Health Cmte by a 4-7 vote. ACS argues that it had "too many exceptions." This is the only other bill in the country besides WI's SB440/AB762 which would've explicitly exempted vaping from an indoor clean air act. Bill's sponsor says that she intends to wait until next year to try. (AL legislature sessions are limited to 30 working days out of every 105 calendar days, and the current session began on 1/14/14.) No other anti-vaping laws appear to be pending in AL. H/t to ECF member Uma for the link.
---
US: MINNESOTA
Title: E-Cig bill clears Senate committee
(Pierce Co. MN US local paper) http://www.piercecountyherald
.com/content/minnesota-news-roundup-e-cig-bill-clears-senate-committee
Brief report indicates that SF 2027 (extends clean air act to indoor/outdoor vaping) has cleared one sen. cmte, and is now in the next one. SF 2027 also includes a minor sales/possession ban.
[ Threats in MN are: HF 1974: Extends clean indoor act to cover vaping, still in 1st house cmte (health & human svcs)
SF 2027: Same as HF 1974, Out of sen. local gov't cmte, now in sen. commerce cmte. (last: 3/13)
For MN vapers updates, see: Minnesota Vapers Advocacy |Minnesota Vapers Advocacy
and the MN Vapers FB page for organizing: http://www.facebook.com/groups/MNVapersAdvocacy/
And: CASAA: Call to Action! Minnesota E-Cigarette Usage Ban ]
Title: Minnesota, Wisconsin taking opposite approach to e-cig regulations [Comments requested]
(Twin Cities MN US ind. web site)
Completely junk-free short piece asks for comments on the different legislative situations - MN wants to ban indoor vaping (and already imposes a high tax, which the article doesn't mention), and a WI senate panel just approved the CASAA-supported SB 440 (although it has little hope of being passed this year, since the session is coming close to an end: MN is a very different story).
---
US: OKLAHOMA
Title: City Council in Tahlequah, OK looks again at E-Cigarette ban [Vote March 24]
(OK City OK US local paper) http://city-sentinel
.com/2014/03/city-council-in-tahlequah-ok-looks-again-at-e-cigarette-ban/
Vote is March 24th
This is an amazingly balanced piece which doesn't cite one single bit of ANTZ junk, and which also does a very good job of reporting on the manner in which MSA (master tobacco settlement agreement) funds have been dangled in front of the City of Talequah's nose in exchange for passing anti-vaping legislation. Last year, Tahlequah tabled a proposed vaping=smoking ban, but is coming under increasing pressure from ANTZ orgs and the state of OK.
Also see (h/t to ECF member Swampergene):
http://watchdog
.org/119734/bribery-grants-e-cigs-brick-in-the-wall/
http://newsok
.com/oklahoma-communities-ban-e-cigarettes-with-grant-money-in-mind/article/3912005 OK:
[ SB 1892 is a mixed bag for proponents of smoke-free alternatives, because it raises the tax on Snus and other smokeless products, but exempts vaping. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...g-bills-introduced-oklahoma-hearing-held.html
and: Oklahoma -- OK! - ECF InfoZone OK also has S1602 - is it ready for the sen. floor? Same Q about H3104 (also minor sales ban?) ]
---
US: UTAH
Title: E-cigarettes hailed as safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, not everyone agrees
(SLC UT US local ABC affiliate) http://www.4utah
.com/story/d/story/e-cigarettes-hailed-as-safer-alternative-to-tradit/28392/ZOl_kUSTX02jJ6veZ_FGdA
Despicable interview with local MD, who plays an almost perfect ANTZ hand. In the piece we'll learn that: (1) vaping has no value as a method for THR or harm reduction; (2) minors who vape end up smoking tobacco; (3) "concern" that vaping will "renormalize" smoking; (4) vaping creates "more [cigarette] smoking" because vapers continue to smoke and don't quit; and (5) no evidence exists that vaping is safer than smoking tobacco cigarettes for either vapers or bystanders.
Although the anchor tried to coax the MD into suggesting that the MD is currently seeing patients who are experiencing health effects from vaping, the MD coyly responds that these issues are "tobacco related" (evidently the MD couldn't bring herself to explicitly deny that vaping has contributed to health issues among her patients). The other minor (relative) virtue of this piece is that the MD apparently didn't get the memo on volatile organic compounds, tin nanoparticles, and other heavy metals. Still, for a non-professional ANTZ, this was a fairly decent job, and ANTZ kudos also go to the producer (or was it the anchor?) for doing their best to get the MD to claim that existing patients are experiencing health effects from vaping. Overall both the MD and the anchor did their best (and a good job at that) to ensure that every otherwise-ignorant viewer of this piece would come away with the idea that 'electronic cigarettes' are really no different than another brand of tobacco cigarettes. Any major California network affiliate would be proud of the hit job done here.
Title: Smokers next door? Let the renter beware in Utah
(Ogden UT US local paper) http://www.standard
.net/stories/2014/03/12/smokers-next-door-let-renter-beware
Lori Greene (community health educator in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program with the Weber-Morgan Health Department) breezily explains that second hand smoke is the "third leading cause of preventable disease in the US." Article treats vaping as smoking, without so much as a syllable to imply that there's any distinction in terms of the exposure to "second hand [whatever]" experienced by neighboring tenants in a multi-unit building.
---
US: WASHINGTON
Title: Sound Off for March 12th: Would you like to see a ban on E-Cigarettes? [COMMENTS REQUESTED]
(Spokane WA US CNN affiliate) http://www.kxly
.com/interactive/sound-off/sound-off-for-march-12th-would-you-like-to-see-a-ban-on-ecigarettes/24940256
Junk-free piece says nothing about vaping as such, simply asks for feedback on Yakima's decision. Amazingly, no one seems to have commented. Maybe there's some kind of software issue.
Title: Cawley Says Information Insufficient on E-Cigarettes
(Yakima WA US Fox affiliate) http://newstalkkit
.com/cawley-says-information-insufficient-on-e-cigarettes/
"Yakima Mayor Micah Cawley says he was not convinced electronic cigarettes needed to be nixed from the same areas where cigarettes are not allowed in public. The reason why Cawley says he voted against a proposal to regulate e-cigarettes at Tuesdays council meeting was what he did not know. 'When you dont have information that is backed up by some sort of substantial organization that has some authority on this, then theres still a question mark.' Cawley was on the side of the majority of the 4-3 vote that defeated the measure. Council woman Maureen Adkison says the city was not trying to impose an all-out ban. She says the city just wanted e-cigarettes regulated in the same areas regular cigarettes are banned in public. 'Just follow the rules that smokers have to follow. Thats all we were asking.'"
***
COLLECTION 1: MORE STORIES FROM "THE [MINOR GATEWAY] MEME"
If you've just started to catch up on what's going on, here's the meme that the Tobacco Control Industry has successfully created within the last few weeks.
Meme: E-cigarettes are being deliberately and deceptively marketed to teenagers by the tobacco industry. Once these minors use an e-cigarette, they are seven times more likely to become regular cigarette smokers. Since e-cigarette use is exploding among minors, this will lead to an explosion in the number of tobacco cigarette smokers.
The meme was created by many events - documented later in this post.
Today's media stories that arise from the meme are listed here ...
Title: Electronic cigarettes may encourage teens to smoke regular cigarettes - A large new study finds that the two behaviors go hand-in-hand
(Consumer Reports) http://www.consumerreports
.org/cro/news/2014/03/electronic-cigarettes-encourage-teens-to-smoke-regular-cigarettes/index.htm
Another dreadful CU piece.
Title: E-cigarettes as a gateway - Some adolescents may be taking their first drags on e-cigarettes
(Chico CA US local paper) http://www.newsreview
.com/chico/e-cigarettes-as-a-gateway/content?oid=12943823
Title: Are e-cigarette marketers ensnaring the next generation of teen smokers?
(US National Paper) http://www.csmonitor
.com/Commentary/Opinion/2014/0313/Are-e-cigarette-marketers-ensnaring-the-next-generation-of-teen-smokers
Utterly despicable. A virtually-perfect professional ANTZ hit job.
Title: E-cigarette industry shamelessly targeting teens
(NJ local paper amalgam site) http://www.northjersey
.com/opinion/e-cigarette-industry-shamelessly-targeting-teens-1.740404
Title: Board may toughen regulations against tobacco products
(N Andover MA US local paper) http://www.eagletribune
.com/local/x1387863154/Board-may-toughen-regulations-against-tobacco-products
Technically this is a story about a proposed minor sales ban. But the justification is the gateway effect.
Title: Protect kids from getting hooked on this deadly gateway drug: PennLive letters
(Harrisburg PA US local paper) http://www.pennlive
.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/e-cigarettes_gateway_drug_kids.html
Same as above, except MD writes to support PA's SB 1055, which is ready for the house floor. It's a simple minor ban.
***
COLLECTION 2: CT, PHILADELPHIA, WI, IA
Coverage of yesterday's news - mostly brief announcements with little junk (particularly the AP stories):
1) CT 24 introduced by Gov. is a simple minor sales ban.
2) Philadephia City Council Cmte unanimously refers vaping=smoking indoor clean air act ext. to full Council.
3) IA HF 2109 (formerly HSB 566), a simple minor sales/possession ban is ready for the full sen. (having passed the house).
4) WI SB 440 would specifically exempt vaping from the indoor clean air act, passed sen. cmte, but further action unlikely this year.
Title: [CT Gov.] Malloy seeks to ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors [AP]
http://www.myrecordjournal
.com/news/state/3919780-129/malloy-seeks-to-ban-sale-of-e-cigarettes-to-minors.html
Title: [CT gov.] Malloy Looks To Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors In Connecticut
(Norwalk CT local paper) http://norwalk.dailyvoice
.com/politics/malloy-looks-ban-e-cigarette-sales-minors-connecticut
Title: Bill Would Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors In Connecticut
(CT ind. collection site [?]) http://www.ctnewsfeed
.com/hartford/bill-would-ban-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-in-connecticut/
Title: [Philadelphia] City Council committee moves to restrict e-cigarettes
(Philadelphia PA local paper) http://www.philly
.com/philly/news/politics/20140314_City_Council_committee_moves_to_restrict_e-cigarettes.html
A general report on the blow-by-blow at the Philly hearings. As many of you know by now, the full Philly city council is going to hear the vaping=smoking extension at some point later this month (I don't believe a date has been set yet. For more on Philly, see:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...c-cigarettes-existing-indoor-smoking-ban.html
Title: Iowa panel supports e-cigarette ban for minors (AP)
http://www.news8000
.com/news/politics/Iowa-panel-supports-e-cigarette-ban-for-minors/24947178
Title: [WI] Senate committee approves e-cigarette exemption from smoking ban (WTAQ)
http://wdez
.com/news/articles/2014/mar/14/senate-committee-approves-e-cigarette-exemption-from-smoking-ban/ http://whbl
.com/news/articles/2014/mar/14/senate-committee-approves-e-cigarette-exemption-from-smoking-ban/
Title: [WI] State Senate panel backs bill allowing e-cigarettes indoors [AP]
http://www.greenbaypressgazette
.com/viewart/20140313/GPG0101/303130244/Legislators-consider-allowing-e-cigarettes-indoors
***
COLLECTION 3: FDA TOO SLOW ON E-CIG. REGULATIONS / REGULATIONS OVERDUE (BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE)
First published by Bloomberg News Service, this piece started in CT and is now migrating from the NE. At least two titles have been used so far, and more will likely come.
Look for the first line: "Could someone please send the Food and Drug Administration a copy of the latest study on teenagers and e-cigarettes? The agency obviously needs a push to come out with its overdue regulations." (Refers to the Dutra & Glantz study released last week which claims that e-cigarettes are a gateway for minors to tobacco smoking.)
Title: E-Cigarettes Pose Real Risks to Teens
http://www.businessweek
.com/articles/2014-03-13/e-cigarettes-pose-real-risks-to-teens
***
COLLECTION 4: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors?
This AP story has been making the rounds, at least two dozen syndicated copies have appeared in the last four days. Some of the clones have different titles, just look for the AP attribution and writer Leanne Italie's byline. I hope this entry out of Japan is the last we'll see of the clones.
http://www.japantimes
.co.jp/news/2014/03/13/world/e-cigarettes-fresh-air-or-just-smoke-and-mirrors/
Title: E-cigarettes: fresh air or smoke and mirrors? [original story]
(AP - re: NYC) http://abcnews.go
.com/US/wireStory/cigarettes-fresh-air-smoke-mirrors-22845459
When I read the title of this story, I expected another "hidden dangers of e-cigarettes" piece - until I saw the AP byline. To my utter astonishment, there isn't one single paragraph in this story which quotes a rep. from any of the standards ANTZ orgs, or even a local MD. The closest it comes is to quoting CT Sen. Blumenthal who points out that "it's still smoking" (regardless, I suppose, of what's in the juice). In fact the first half of the article focuses on the cost of vaping, which doesn't necessarily compare all that favorably to smoking tobacco cigarettes (according to the author). The rest of the piece focuses on two vape shop owners' journey into vaping. A very refreshing break from all the usual garbage in the media.
[ NY has a vaping=smoking bill indoor ban now in the legislature. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-e-cigs-contain-tobacco-all-workplaces.html also tax bill: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-tax-e-cig-cartridges-75-wholesale-price.html ]
***
COLLECTION 5: TOBACCO CONTROL INDUSTRY MINOR GATEWAY MEME - EVENTS TIMELINE
In the future, I intend to keep incrementally augmenting this section to keep track of the gradual growth of the "meme," as a service to those readers who haven't been monitoring the day-by-day progress, as well as a way to evaluate the effectiveness that this meme is having, when it comes to determining how the world views the purpose and effect of vaping.
Meme: E-cigarettes are being deliberately and deceptively marketed to teenagers by the tobacco industry. Once these minors use an e-cigarette, they are seven times more likely to become regular cigarette smokers. Since e-cigarette use is exploding among minors, this will lead to an explosion in the number of tobacco cigarette smokers.
Event 1 - Feb 26: introduction of the Protecting Children From Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2014 (PCECAA) by a group of national US legislators - among them (most prominently) Sens. Boxer (CA), Schumer (NY), and Blumenthal (CT).
Result: Nationwide coverage premised on the idea that e-cigarettes are marketed to children because they are flavored and/or because of the imagery used to market them (depending on the source, this imagery is either celebrity endorsements, sexually titillating advertising, or cartoon characters).
Event 2 - Mar 4: Vape pens article in NYT introduces idea that kids are being lured by PVs which are not called "e-cigarettes" but which are marketed as "vape pens" and/or "e-hookahs" with attractive flavors in order to confuse teenagers.
Result: This piece also created a slew of outraged coverage across the US and overseas about the manner in which the "e-cigarette industry is targeting children."
Title: E-Cigarettes, by Other Names, Lure Young and Worry Experts
http://www.nytimes
.com/2014/03/05/business/e-cigarettes-under-aliases-elude-the-authorities.html
Event 3 - Mar 6: Dutra & Glantz paper published in JAMA Pediatrics which falsely claims (in some places) that the use of e-cigarettes is a causal factor in tobacco smoking, AKA a gateway effect: minors who use e-cigarettes are "seven times more likely" to become regular tobacco smokers.
http://archpedi.jamanetwork
.com/article.aspx?articleid=1840772 Criticized here for confusing causation with correlation: http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/conclusion-of-new-glantz-study-on.html [Also criticized by a number of Tobacco Control Organizations, such as the ACS:
Stanton Glantz is such a liar that even the ACS balks: his latest ecig gateway study | Anti-THR Lies and related topics
Result: This lead to hundreds of media stories around the world in which e-cigarettes were "linked" with increasing tobacco smoking among young people (despite the fact that these rates have dropped dramatically during the 2011-12 period in question). Paper:
Event 4 - Mar 9: NY Sen. Schumer issues a press release, in which he expresses outrage that e-cigarettes are being marketed to children, who are "seven times more likely" to become tobacco smokers - citing the Mar. 6th JAMA paper.
Result: This press release generated scores of articles around the world:
Title: Schumer Looks To Snuff Out E-Cigarette Marketing To Kids
(NYC CBS affiliate) http://newyork.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/09/schumer-looks-to-snuff-out-e-cigarette-marketing-to-kids/
Event 5 - Mar 10: CT Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. DeLauro hold a news conf. and issue a press release in which they re-iterate the points made in Schumer's earlier press release, and emphasize the issues cited in the March 4th NYT article concerning "vape pens" and "e-hookahs."
Title: Blumenthal, DeLauro: E-hookahs attractive, dangerous, and marketed to children
(Republished from NH Register, New Haven CT local paper) http://www.middletownpress
.com/general-news/20140310/blumenthal-delauro-e-hookahs-attractive-dangerous-and-marketed-to-children
Result: Once again, this received wide and admiring coverage around the US, and in some cases overseas.
Event 6 - Mar 11: IA Sen Harkin and several other sponsoring Sen.s of the PCECAA mail letter to White House, calling for the FDA to release regulations the that FDA originally proposed last fall (but which were rejected by the Office of Management and Budget as too burdensome).
http://www.nationaljournal
.com/library/123450
Result: As of this writing, there are no press reports about this letter - but no news conf. has been called, nor (?) has a press release been issued. Stay tuned for this to generate another hundred stories or so when it does.
***
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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