[ 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) San Francisco CA extension to clean air act which covers indoor and outdoor vaping, plus B&M licensing ord. to be introduced today, first city council hearing on Thursday.
2) Santa Maria CA extension to clean air act which covers indoor and outdoor vaping to be heard on Thursday.
3) Call-in show w/ Sen. Soloby of Penna., tonight at 8pm - sponsor of the simple minor sales ban which has just passed the Sen. Please urge him to not accept ammendments: http://pcntv.com/2014/03/02/march-3-8pm-e-cigarettes-with-sen-tim-solobay/
4) Reminder on Hawaii - vote Tues: SB 2495 would tax PVs, define vaping as smoking indoors and outdoors, and ban online sales is going to a full senate vote on Tues, see: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/532634-hawaii-wam-sb-2495-latest.html`
and:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-hawaii-bills-that-would.html
5) Reminder on Long Beach CA - Council meets Tues: City Council meets Tues 5p Council Chambers 333 Ocean Blvd., ord. would ban indoor and outdoor vaping:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/local-alert-long-beach-california-e.html
Agenda: http://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=299234&GUID=B33B8BF9-DF6D-4D59-9360-64D258B71637
6) CASAA updates CTA to support UT HB 112, which is now in a much less virulent form: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-utah-online-sales-ban.html
Coverage: US domestic only, states: NY, GA, IA, TX, CA
Also: Dr. Siegal takes on on of Glantz's favorite minor "gateway" and cessation studies.
***
STUDIES, BLOGS, ETC.
Title: American Thoracic Society is Discouraging Many Smokers from Quitting and Misrepresenting Scientific Evidence on E-Cigarettes
(Dr. Siegal's blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot
.com/2014/03/american-thoracic-society-is.html
Reply to a letter published in the NYT last week from the Chair of U. Il. Chicago's med. dep't and the Pres. of the American Thoracic Society. This post is particularly important because it addresses one of Glantz's favorite studies on cessation/minor gateway - that's the one done on 76K S. Korean teenagers.
Title: Harm reduction and e-cigarettes: not evidence-based [Letter]
(The Lancet/Oncology) http://www.thelancet
.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2814%2970038-5/fulltext?rss=yes
Very carefully-written anti-vaping letter argues that because vaping is "attractive" to minors (cites CDC junk), whatever harm reduction may occur will be balanced by increased nicotine addition [note the premise that nicotine addition is caused by vaping, and/or is a harm that's been studied and/or measured.] This sentence says it all: "However, no evidence is available to support their claim that e-cigarettes will help smokers to quit or reduce their harm without unintentional societal effects through large increases in nicotine addiction." The remainder of the letter argues (without evidence) that minor sales bans are ineffective, and that (in effect) BT can't be trusted.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: E-Cigarette Critics Worry New Ads Will Make 'Vaping' Cool For Kids
(NPR, nat'l radio) http://www.npr
.org/2014/03/03/284006424/e-cigarette-critics-worry-new-ads-will-make-vaping-cool-for-kids
Repeats CDC minor junk uncritically, shows Blu bikini-bottom ad as illustration. Lead portion of the story repeats ANTZ youth marketing arguments, only at the end do we find out that alcohol and condom advertising is often based on erotic appeals directed towards males who find females attractive. Your correspondent is struck by the fact that no one ever seems to mention automobile advertising in this context. Still, this is slightly-better than the overtly biased pieces that we've seen from NPR in the recent past. Vapers are urged to continue e-mailing NPR, and keep the pressure on. Their gov't funding is much more tenuous than that of the ANTZ org.s This story may be syndicated to local NPR stations all over the country.
Title: Clearing the Air? The Benefits & Risks Of Electronic Cigarettes
(Holistic Health Care 'zine) http://holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-a-g/environomics/1586-clearing-the-air-the-benefits-risks-of-electronic-cigarettes-2
.html
[This is a legitimate site, modulo whatever disagreements one might have about the subject matter, for example it does have a section on homeopathy.] Article isn't what I'd classify as a "hit job" although it contains very little pro-vaping content, and the author seems to accept a number of ANTZ assertions w/o question (such as the sigificance of CDC minor junk and the alleged absence of cessation evidence). What's particularly troubling is her claim that nic. is addictive and that this is "the fundamental problem [with analogs]." I counted four uses of "fear," and one each of "concern" and "worry" - experienced readers of media stories will recognize this trend. Even worse, there seems to be no mention of the notion that vaping in tandem with analog cessation is less harmful to the user; the author appears to regard this as an open question. That said, this piece stops short of besmirching vapers and the clean hands vaping industry with BT's reputation, or recommending that tobacco users avoid even considering vaping entirely, or arguing that vaping should be treated and regarded as just another way to "smoke," which are three of the hallmarks of a professional ANTZ hit job. One might say that this is a case of negligent homicide, not first-degree murder, as it were.
---
US: NEW YORK
Title: Just say ‘yes’ to regulating e-cigarettesJust say ‘yes’ to regulating e-cigarettes
(U BUFFALO NY US student paper) http://www.ubspectrum
.com/opinion/just-say-yes-to-regulating-e-cigarettes-1.3146862#.UxSEB85obfg
Although I suspect no University of Buffalo students will ever read this post, this is a good example of a standard mainstream media piece backing EU-style regulations in the states - not too different than the NYT editorial covered in this space yesterday. Both pieces seem to be written by writers who have little understanding of just how flawed the EU Tobacco Products Directive truely is, both in terms of both excessiveness and practicality. As always, we hear that the science is inconclusive, and the premise that vaping is being marketed to minors is never questioned.
[ 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 ]
---
US: GEORGIA
Title: E-cig marketing bill upsets some
(Augusta GA US local paper) http://chronicle.augusta
.com/news/metro/2014-03-02/e-cig-marketing-bill-upsets-some
Although the junk in this piece is limited to reciting the CDC minor figures and repeating the FDA's claim that effectively nothing is known about vaping, it does have two rather devastating quotes from vapers in it. One from a very young vaper who seems to (unwisely) endorse the idea of minors vaping, and another from a vape store owner who seems to think that internet sales should be banned. Looks as if neither of these folks had any idea how problematic their comments could be - reminding your correspondent of some other unfortunate remarks on different subjects made over the last year by industry representatives (who really should know better).
[ GA's SB 347 and HB 251 are simple minor bans, but with internet age verification requirements. Both still in cmte. ]
---
US: IOWA
Title: Letter: Don’t treat e-cigarettes differently
(Ames, IA US local paper) http://amestrib
.com/opinion/letter-don-t-treat-e-cigarettes-differently
Letter-writer does a good job of parroting ANTZ propaganda, and smearing vapers with BT. IA has a very active ANTZ org. known as CAFE (Clean Air for Everyone AKA CAN), which is putting pressure on the legislature to ammend IA's simple minor ban in the senate, after ANTZ orgs lost in the house. See below. Ames-area vapers are encouraged to respond.
[ After opposition from ANTZ, IA's simple minor sales ban is out of the house and ready for the senate. However, IA residents should also pay close attention to this short article, which suggests that the legislation could be ammended in the sen.:
http://www.press-citizen
.com/article/20140223/NEWS01/302230016/Legislators-answer-questions-wide-array-topics-forum ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Re: "E-cigarettes’ Vapor Trail -- Ban them from schools but hold off on public places [ Thursday Editorials ]
(Dallas TX US local paper) http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews
.com/2014/03/an-e-cigarette-ban-is-the-right-path.html/
Letter writer says: "...you also point out that e-cigarette smokers might be inhaling formaldehyde and an ingredient used in antifreeze. My question is, what happens when e-cigarette smokers near me exhale? Where do that formaldehyde and other chemicals go? I don’t want to be forced to breathe it even if it’s odorless.". This letter is written regarding this editorial, which opposes extensions to indoor clean air acts which would ban indoor and outdoor vaping: http://www.dallasnews
.com/opinion/editorials/20140226-editorial-the-e-cigarette-problem.ece
Dallas-area vapers are urged to e-mail the DMN, to congratulate it on its stand against clean indoor air act extensions, but also correct the 'formalehyde' canard, and point out that the "ingredient involved in antifreeze" canard came from the discredited FDA '09 study (diethylene glycol).
[ TX's legislature is out of session for the year, unless Gov. Perry calls for a special session. ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: Supervisors propose regulations on electronic cigarettes
(SF CA US local paper) http://www.sfexaminer
.com/sanfrancisco/supervisors-propose-regulations-on-electronic-cigarettes/Content?oid=2719159
Announces the that SF's vaping=smoking indoor/outdoor clean air act extension proposal will be unvailed on Monday. The first hearing on the bill will be Thursday, if you know a time and location, please post in the Legislation forum. This piece contains extensive junky quotes from Supervisor Eric Mar, who seems to be entirely conversant with ANTZ language, using phrases such as "Wild West," and - more alarmingly - "normalizing smoking." As most readers of this post know, SF is the home of UCSF where perhaps the most virulent ANTZ on the planet enjoys an endowed Tobacco Control chair (Stanton Glantz).
[ 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 ]
Title: Council to discuss extending smoking bans to e-cigarettes
(Santa Maria CA local paper) http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/council-to-discuss-extending-smoking-bans-to-e-cigarettes/article_8075c00a-a2a3-11e3-a74d-0019bb2963f4
.html
Santa Maria city council meets Thursday to consider local vaping=smoking clean air act extension to ban both indoor and outdoor vaping. The "research" for this article appears to have been limited to consulting Glantz, so I don't think I need to go any further in terms of describing the junk in it. City Manager Rick Haydon rather ominously says: "People are trying to split hairs and we want to make sure that our prohibitions as far as smoking (goes) also concerns e-cigarettes." If you live in Santa Maria, please post the time and location of the hearing to the legislation forum.
***
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) San Francisco CA extension to clean air act which covers indoor and outdoor vaping, plus B&M licensing ord. to be introduced today, first city council hearing on Thursday.
2) Santa Maria CA extension to clean air act which covers indoor and outdoor vaping to be heard on Thursday.
3) Call-in show w/ Sen. Soloby of Penna., tonight at 8pm - sponsor of the simple minor sales ban which has just passed the Sen. Please urge him to not accept ammendments: http://pcntv.com/2014/03/02/march-3-8pm-e-cigarettes-with-sen-tim-solobay/
4) Reminder on Hawaii - vote Tues: SB 2495 would tax PVs, define vaping as smoking indoors and outdoors, and ban online sales is going to a full senate vote on Tues, see: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/532634-hawaii-wam-sb-2495-latest.html`
and:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-hawaii-bills-that-would.html
5) Reminder on Long Beach CA - Council meets Tues: City Council meets Tues 5p Council Chambers 333 Ocean Blvd., ord. would ban indoor and outdoor vaping:
http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/local-alert-long-beach-california-e.html
Agenda: http://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=299234&GUID=B33B8BF9-DF6D-4D59-9360-64D258B71637
6) CASAA updates CTA to support UT HB 112, which is now in a much less virulent form: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-utah-online-sales-ban.html
Coverage: US domestic only, states: NY, GA, IA, TX, CA
Also: Dr. Siegal takes on on of Glantz's favorite minor "gateway" and cessation studies.
***
STUDIES, BLOGS, ETC.
Title: American Thoracic Society is Discouraging Many Smokers from Quitting and Misrepresenting Scientific Evidence on E-Cigarettes
(Dr. Siegal's blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot
.com/2014/03/american-thoracic-society-is.html
Reply to a letter published in the NYT last week from the Chair of U. Il. Chicago's med. dep't and the Pres. of the American Thoracic Society. This post is particularly important because it addresses one of Glantz's favorite studies on cessation/minor gateway - that's the one done on 76K S. Korean teenagers.
Title: Harm reduction and e-cigarettes: not evidence-based [Letter]
(The Lancet/Oncology) http://www.thelancet
.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2814%2970038-5/fulltext?rss=yes
Very carefully-written anti-vaping letter argues that because vaping is "attractive" to minors (cites CDC junk), whatever harm reduction may occur will be balanced by increased nicotine addition [note the premise that nicotine addition is caused by vaping, and/or is a harm that's been studied and/or measured.] This sentence says it all: "However, no evidence is available to support their claim that e-cigarettes will help smokers to quit or reduce their harm without unintentional societal effects through large increases in nicotine addiction." The remainder of the letter argues (without evidence) that minor sales bans are ineffective, and that (in effect) BT can't be trusted.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: E-Cigarette Critics Worry New Ads Will Make 'Vaping' Cool For Kids
(NPR, nat'l radio) http://www.npr
.org/2014/03/03/284006424/e-cigarette-critics-worry-new-ads-will-make-vaping-cool-for-kids
Repeats CDC minor junk uncritically, shows Blu bikini-bottom ad as illustration. Lead portion of the story repeats ANTZ youth marketing arguments, only at the end do we find out that alcohol and condom advertising is often based on erotic appeals directed towards males who find females attractive. Your correspondent is struck by the fact that no one ever seems to mention automobile advertising in this context. Still, this is slightly-better than the overtly biased pieces that we've seen from NPR in the recent past. Vapers are urged to continue e-mailing NPR, and keep the pressure on. Their gov't funding is much more tenuous than that of the ANTZ org.s This story may be syndicated to local NPR stations all over the country.
Title: Clearing the Air? The Benefits & Risks Of Electronic Cigarettes
(Holistic Health Care 'zine) http://holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-a-g/environomics/1586-clearing-the-air-the-benefits-risks-of-electronic-cigarettes-2
.html
[This is a legitimate site, modulo whatever disagreements one might have about the subject matter, for example it does have a section on homeopathy.] Article isn't what I'd classify as a "hit job" although it contains very little pro-vaping content, and the author seems to accept a number of ANTZ assertions w/o question (such as the sigificance of CDC minor junk and the alleged absence of cessation evidence). What's particularly troubling is her claim that nic. is addictive and that this is "the fundamental problem [with analogs]." I counted four uses of "fear," and one each of "concern" and "worry" - experienced readers of media stories will recognize this trend. Even worse, there seems to be no mention of the notion that vaping in tandem with analog cessation is less harmful to the user; the author appears to regard this as an open question. That said, this piece stops short of besmirching vapers and the clean hands vaping industry with BT's reputation, or recommending that tobacco users avoid even considering vaping entirely, or arguing that vaping should be treated and regarded as just another way to "smoke," which are three of the hallmarks of a professional ANTZ hit job. One might say that this is a case of negligent homicide, not first-degree murder, as it were.
---
US: NEW YORK
Title: Just say ‘yes’ to regulating e-cigarettesJust say ‘yes’ to regulating e-cigarettes
(U BUFFALO NY US student paper) http://www.ubspectrum
.com/opinion/just-say-yes-to-regulating-e-cigarettes-1.3146862#.UxSEB85obfg
Although I suspect no University of Buffalo students will ever read this post, this is a good example of a standard mainstream media piece backing EU-style regulations in the states - not too different than the NYT editorial covered in this space yesterday. Both pieces seem to be written by writers who have little understanding of just how flawed the EU Tobacco Products Directive truely is, both in terms of both excessiveness and practicality. As always, we hear that the science is inconclusive, and the premise that vaping is being marketed to minors is never questioned.
[ 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 ]
---
US: GEORGIA
Title: E-cig marketing bill upsets some
(Augusta GA US local paper) http://chronicle.augusta
.com/news/metro/2014-03-02/e-cig-marketing-bill-upsets-some
Although the junk in this piece is limited to reciting the CDC minor figures and repeating the FDA's claim that effectively nothing is known about vaping, it does have two rather devastating quotes from vapers in it. One from a very young vaper who seems to (unwisely) endorse the idea of minors vaping, and another from a vape store owner who seems to think that internet sales should be banned. Looks as if neither of these folks had any idea how problematic their comments could be - reminding your correspondent of some other unfortunate remarks on different subjects made over the last year by industry representatives (who really should know better).
[ GA's SB 347 and HB 251 are simple minor bans, but with internet age verification requirements. Both still in cmte. ]
---
US: IOWA
Title: Letter: Don’t treat e-cigarettes differently
(Ames, IA US local paper) http://amestrib
.com/opinion/letter-don-t-treat-e-cigarettes-differently
Letter-writer does a good job of parroting ANTZ propaganda, and smearing vapers with BT. IA has a very active ANTZ org. known as CAFE (Clean Air for Everyone AKA CAN), which is putting pressure on the legislature to ammend IA's simple minor ban in the senate, after ANTZ orgs lost in the house. See below. Ames-area vapers are encouraged to respond.
[ After opposition from ANTZ, IA's simple minor sales ban is out of the house and ready for the senate. However, IA residents should also pay close attention to this short article, which suggests that the legislation could be ammended in the sen.:
http://www.press-citizen
.com/article/20140223/NEWS01/302230016/Legislators-answer-questions-wide-array-topics-forum ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Re: "E-cigarettes’ Vapor Trail -- Ban them from schools but hold off on public places [ Thursday Editorials ]
(Dallas TX US local paper) http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews
.com/2014/03/an-e-cigarette-ban-is-the-right-path.html/
Letter writer says: "...you also point out that e-cigarette smokers might be inhaling formaldehyde and an ingredient used in antifreeze. My question is, what happens when e-cigarette smokers near me exhale? Where do that formaldehyde and other chemicals go? I don’t want to be forced to breathe it even if it’s odorless.". This letter is written regarding this editorial, which opposes extensions to indoor clean air acts which would ban indoor and outdoor vaping: http://www.dallasnews
.com/opinion/editorials/20140226-editorial-the-e-cigarette-problem.ece
Dallas-area vapers are urged to e-mail the DMN, to congratulate it on its stand against clean indoor air act extensions, but also correct the 'formalehyde' canard, and point out that the "ingredient involved in antifreeze" canard came from the discredited FDA '09 study (diethylene glycol).
[ TX's legislature is out of session for the year, unless Gov. Perry calls for a special session. ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: Supervisors propose regulations on electronic cigarettes
(SF CA US local paper) http://www.sfexaminer
.com/sanfrancisco/supervisors-propose-regulations-on-electronic-cigarettes/Content?oid=2719159
Announces the that SF's vaping=smoking indoor/outdoor clean air act extension proposal will be unvailed on Monday. The first hearing on the bill will be Thursday, if you know a time and location, please post in the Legislation forum. This piece contains extensive junky quotes from Supervisor Eric Mar, who seems to be entirely conversant with ANTZ language, using phrases such as "Wild West," and - more alarmingly - "normalizing smoking." As most readers of this post know, SF is the home of UCSF where perhaps the most virulent ANTZ on the planet enjoys an endowed Tobacco Control chair (Stanton Glantz).
[ 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 ]
Title: Council to discuss extending smoking bans to e-cigarettes
(Santa Maria CA local paper) http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/council-to-discuss-extending-smoking-bans-to-e-cigarettes/article_8075c00a-a2a3-11e3-a74d-0019bb2963f4
.html
Santa Maria city council meets Thursday to consider local vaping=smoking clean air act extension to ban both indoor and outdoor vaping. The "research" for this article appears to have been limited to consulting Glantz, so I don't think I need to go any further in terms of describing the junk in it. City Manager Rick Haydon rather ominously says: "People are trying to split hairs and we want to make sure that our prohibitions as far as smoking (goes) also concerns e-cigarettes." If you live in Santa Maria, please post the time and location of the hearing to the legislation forum.
***
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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