[ 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 tomorrow 2pm at City Hall: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-san-francisco-california.html
2) New studies coming: two studies of minor use of vaping (20,000 by CDC, 400,000 by California), new Roswell Park Cancer Inst. Study of nicotine absorbtion.
3) Simple minor sales bans advance: to OK house floor; signed in OH; passed in Aberdeen SD.
4) Indoor clean air act bills advances in MN, WI bill to exempt vaping from indoor clean air act heard for the first time in cmte today.
5) Austin MN to consider extending clean indoor act to include vaping on Mon March 17th.
6) Denison TX, and Santa Maria CA define vaping as smoking to extend their clean indoor air acts, along with LA coverage (at end).
7) New questions over minor use of "vape pens" and "e-hookahs" raised by CDC and California Tobacco control authorities.
Coverage: UK/Wiltshire, Canada/BC, US States: PA, FL, GA, OH, MI, MN, WI, SD, OK, TX, WA, CA
Also: Siegal takes on despicable KC ANTZ editorial, and RI Gov. tax; R.J. Reynolds to buy Lorrilard rumors continue; Altria (PMI's) big gamble on dry herb vaporizer technology for tobacco; UK advertising regulators look into VIP ad and work on guidelines; Dr. Siegal on RI; Gary Cox on the EU and (again) on NJOY's $1B capitalization.
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: Another Tobacco Control Professional Declares that We Don't Know if Smoking is any More Hazardous than Vaping
(Dr. Siegal's Blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/another-tobacco-control-professional.html
Dr. Siegal addresses a despicable piece run Sunday by the Kansas City KS local paper - which your correspondent characterized yesterday as implying that vaping is no safer than smoking, and went on to say: "This article is a perfect example of what I always say about hit pieces: if you want a professional job, then hire a professional ANTZ." It's nice to see someone with real credibility take on trash like this.
Title: Why is the Governor of Rhode Island Trying to Help Protect Big Tobacco from Competition?
(Dr. Siegal's Blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/why-is-governor-of-rhode-island-trying.html
Dr. Siegal on RI's HB 7133, which would impose an 80% wholesale tax on vaping (both e-juice and equipment). Also see: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/01/call-to-action-rhode-island-bill-sets.html
Title: Roswell Seeks Volunteers for Electronic Cigarette Study
(Buffalo NY US - re: Roswell Park Cancer Inst.) http://www.wgrz
.com/story/life/2014/03/04/roswell-seeks-volunteers-for-electronic-cigarette-study/6050059/
RPCI seeks volunteers for a study described as: "Up until now, there have not been many scientific studies on e-cigarettes, so researchers really want to see if there are any risks. They also want to find out just how beneficial vaping can be for smokers trying to quit. They will compare the nicotine levels of people who are smokers, non-smokers, e-cigarette users and those who use both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Those are most likely people who vape to try to stop using tobacco all together. Researchers call them dual-users." We won't know what the results of this study will be until we see the grant application. Volunteers will be selected from both the US and Poland. More ominously: "'We want to find out how much nicotine users of electronic cigarettes can get from these devices. We also want to know if these devices can reduce risks of getting cancer, being exposed to different chemicals from tobacco smoke,' says Dr. Maciej Goniewicz."
Title: New Product Directive Looms
(ECF's InfoZone) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/new-product-directive-looms.html
Gary Cox asks whether some of the TPD's weaknesses could actually turn out to be usable against it.
Title: Money Talks: Let’s Listen In
(ECF's InfoZone) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/money-talks-lets-listen.html
What do the investors who have gambled a billion dollars in NJoy really know, that the rest of us don't?
***
WORLD
Title: E-Cigarettes, Under Aliases, Elude the Authorities
(US Nat'l Paper) http://www.nytimes
.com/2014/03/05/business/e-cigarettes-under-aliases-elude-the-authorities.html?_r=0
Report claims (based on reports from Tobacco Control officials) that many minors are confused about what an "e-cigarette" actually is, and therefore that the recent studies on minor use of PVs have actually underestimated the extent. Some PV manufacturers of all-in-ones (AKA "cigAlikes") are describing their products as "vape pens" or "e-hookahs" to "to reach an audience that wants no part of e-cigarettes" (quote is from the article, not from a manufacturer). Your correspondent was a bit confused at first, when he googled "vape pen" and discovered that Cross sells a "vapor pen" (which is - yes, a real ball point pen.). To add to the ambiguity, there are also "dry herb vaporizers" which can be used for both dry tobacco and other dried herbs. (This appears to be the technology that's referenced in the WSJ story listed next.) However this NYT piece is talking about PVs that use e-liquid as we vapers know it. Article reports that the CDC is currently sending a survey to 20,000 students nationwide that "asks about e-cigarette experimentation, but does not identify the devices by other names." [It's not clear what that the phrase "other names" means.] California is surveying 400,000 students. (One has to wonder why they aren't surveying adult vapers for cessation information. Or perhaps this isn't a mystery.) In any event, it's clear that there will be more alarming study results on minor PV usage available soon. The results will undoubtedly justify a requirement of F2F sales (i.e. no internet sales), which will in turn allow local regulation, taxes, and restrictions on new B&M licenses. Bans on outdoor vaping by adults in locations where children may be present - such as sidewalks - may also appear more justifiable.
Title: Can Big Tobacco Grow Again?
(US Nat'l Business) http://blogs.wsj
.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/03/03/how-the-cigarette-industry-plans-to-make-tobacco-grow-again/
Not-terribly-informative report on Altria's (formerly PMI) new heated tobacco hybrid "cigarette" that produces vapor from tobacco in leaf form. Altria is gambing nearly $700M on a new European facility to manufacture these. Junk-free. Note: if you get a pay wall message, close your browser and clear your cookies.
Title: Lorillard Shares Soar After Report Reynolds American Eyeing Takeover
(US Nat'l Business) http://blogs.wsj
.com/moneybeat/2014/03/03/lorillard-shares-soar-after-report-reynolds-american-eyeing-takeover/
More on the speculation that's been building for months that R.J. Reynolds would buy Lorillard. No mention of PVs, but Lorillard makes Blu. If this merger is approved by FTC regulators, it would result in the US's largest tobacco firm, with only Altria (formerly PMI) as its competitor. It would also set the stage for a head-to-head matchup between two almost-equally-sized titans in the US "all in one" (AKA cigAlike) market for PVs. No junk. As w/ all WSJ articles, close your browser and clear your cookies if you get a pay wall message. Here's a similar junk free story from a local NC paper: http://www.journalnow
.com/business/business_beat/british-media-reports-reynolds-american-interested-in-buying-lorillard/article_3665835e-a309-11e3-a669-001a4bcf6878.html
***
UK NATIONAL
Title: E-cigarette television advertising to be investigated
(UK Nat'l paper) http://www.theguardian
.com/media/2014/mar/04/e-cigarette-advertising-investigated-british-american-obacco
Junk free report on review of British advertising standards for vaping products by the Committee on Advertising Practice (CAP). CAP's sister body, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned VIP's salacious "put it in my mouth" ad yesterday. BAT (makers of VYPE, which has also launched a large advertising campaign) welcomes the review. No comments in this article from VIP.
Title: Farage lobbies for 'remarkable' e-cigarettes in video after donation from maker
(UK Nat'l paper) http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10677680/Farage-lobbies-for-remarkable-e-cigarettes-in-video-after-donation-from-maker.html
Nigel Farage, leader of the tiny UKIP and MEP from S.E. England appears in videos urging the EU to avoid passing the TPD article 18, which regulates PVs. Story indicates that the party recieved a total of £36K (US $60K) in the last year from the makers of Totally Wicked. The UKIP is a small Libertarian-oriented breakaway from the Conservative Party that left after Major signed Maastrict. It has never won a seat in the Commons. No junk.
---
UK: WILTSHIRE
Title: As smokers go digital, what should employers do?
(WI UK local bus. paper) http://www.wiltshirebusinessonline
.co.uk/news/11051702.As_smokers_go_digital__what_should_employers_do_/?ref=var_0
Solicitor advises employers to treat vaping as smoking due to "uknown" risks. No junk other than the claim that there are "unkown risks," although the solicitor also seems to regard vaping as undesireable workplace behavior because: "The industrial relations point here is it also sends the wrong message to staff, who are likely to see this as a nod towards the acceptability of smoking more generally, which is of couse unhealthy" In other words: vaping looks like smoking, so permitting it in a work environment has a bad influence on employees.
---
CANADA: BC
Title: Vancouver School Board considers banning e-cigarettes
(Ca. amalgam web site - re: Van BC) http://globalnews
.ca/news/1185488/vancouver-school-board-considers-banning-e-cigarettes/
Vancouver school district to vote 3/10 on resolution to ban all vaping on its property. It appears that vaping by adults will be included in this ban, at the behest of the VC Lung Assn. Says the Lung ...'n smokeswoman, apparently speaking for the school board: "The school board recognizes that youth may be attracted to the flavours, to the act of mimicking smoking to appear to be grown up, and it just puts one more obstacle in the way." In other words: children need to be protected from being potentially influenced by the sight of adult vapers.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: Los Angeles To Restrict E-Cigarette Use [audio only - not really about LA]
(US Nat'l Public Radio, probably destined for rebroadcast/syndication to other NPR stations) http://hereandnow.wbur
.org/2014/03/05/la-e-cigarettes
This was the perfect "ANTZ fest" - Brian King, adviser to the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC, and Emily McDonald who wasn't identified as a researcher in UCSF's Tobacco Control Center. Aside from the fact that the moderator appeared to be prepared with a list of ANTZ talking points, what's noteworthy about this hit job piece was that both King and McDonald focused on minors. King had to be prompted on both the issue of "second hand vapor" and the cessation issue. What he said on both issues was precisely what you'd expect: namely, little is known about the danger to bystanders (but the evidence suggests that we should be very afraid of the nicotine, and other toxins), and there's no evidence that PVs are of value as a cessation tool, in fact all the evidence suggests that they create more analog use. Nevertheless, King leads with the dangers to minors, the "renomalization of smoking" and the threat that PVs allegedly pose to society. This has become the new ANTZ meme, and it's clear from the LA City Council's decision that this was central to their case.
Title: NY Times Editorial Board gets it wrong on EU e-cigarette regulations
(ACSH web site) http://acsh
.org/2014/03/ny-times-editorial-board-gets-wrong-eu-e-cigarette-regulations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ny-times-editorial-board-gets-wrong-eu-e-cigarette-regulations
ACSH response to Sunday's NYT editorial. No junk, but rather conclusory. For ex., the piece correctly points out that the CDC statistics on minor use of PVs are misleading, but doesn't say way. It's one thing for the ANTZ to simply recite conclusions in an environment in which most readers are predisposed to think of vaping as smoking and (justifiably) loathe past BT practices, and quite another to respond to such claims with little more than bare assertions. Internal links are provided in the story, but ACSH should know better than to rely upon readers to click them. This piece will convince few if any readers who aren't already on our side.
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Should e-cigarettes be regulated?
(Indiana PA US local paper) http://www.indianagazette
.com/news/opinions/redblue-america-should-ecigarettes-be-regulated,19425958/
This piece is being republished/syndicated in a number of places. It was first printed Friday in the L.I. Newsday under the title: "Should E-cigarettes have regulation immunity?" and yesterday in the LA Daily News under the same title. I was hoping for a bit more thought on both sides: the focus seems to be on the psychology behind the demand for regulation. That said, the "ANTZ" advocate isn't terribly ANTZ-like, and his points are refreshingly jnk-free.
---
US: FLORIDA
Title: Up in smoke - As e-cigarette popularity rises, societal questions remain
(U So. FL US student paper) http://www.usforacle
.com/up-in-smoke-1.2859098#.UxXmQs5obfg
This student-written article is mainly interesting for the relatively balanced remarks made by Thomas Brandon, identified as a [U. So. Fl.] professor of psychology and oncologic sciences and director of the Tobacco Research and Intervention Program at Moffitt Cancer Center," who appears to embrace vaping as harm reduction. He says: "It has the potential, if everything works out perfectly, to save hundreds of thousands of lives in America." As most vapers know, it's extremely unusual for any professional Tobacco researcher / Tobacco Control expert to take a position like this. He even goes so far as to say: "There needs to be more research into the liquid used in e-cigarettes, but all the ingredients are safe as far as we know. He also gives the ANTZ a bit of a pass, "Brandon said the skepticism of the health community is warranted, as methods to reduce the harm of tobacco have proved frivolous before." He also refers to (without using the word) the objective of "denomalizing" smoking, but doesn't seem to embrace the idea of doing the same with vaping - i.e. treating vaping for all purposes as identical to smoking. It's worth repeating that deviations from the ANTZ party line are extremely rare among his colleagues in the Tobacco Control industry, so this is worth a read for that reason alone.
[ FL simple minor ban, SB 224 is ready for Sen. Floor on March 4 when legislative session opens, also see: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...would-block-electronic-cigarettes-minors.html ]
---
US: GEORGIA
Title: CDC warning: Students smoking unsafe e-cigarettes in school
(Atlanta GA US Cox/ABC affiliate) http://www.wsbtv
.com/news/online/site-information/history-wsb-tvchannel-2/nDqnS/
Yet another in a series of stories that we've seen recently about minors. Since the CDC HQ is in Atlanta, it's not clear whether this started out as a story on GA's simple minor ban, or whether it was initiated by the CDC: "'We do have reports, including from the Atlanta area, of kids in public high schools using e-cigarettes in the classroom to vape, because it doesn't have an odor, is small and can be used surreptitiously,' said Dr. Tim McAfee, CDC director of the Office on Smoking and Health."
[ GA's SB 347 and HB 251 are simple minor bans, but with internet age verification requirements. Both still in cmte. ]
---
US: OHIO
Title: Ohio governor OKs ban on e-cigarette sales to kids
(AP) http://www.fox19
.com/story/24894518/ohio-governor-oks-ban-on-e-cigarette-sales-to-kids
Gov. Kasich signs OH's simple minor sales ban. No junk. No other bills appear to be pending in OH.
---
US: MICHIGAN
Title: E-Cigarette Use Getting Younger, More Expansive
(Detroit MI US CBS affiliate) http://detroit.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/04/e-cigarette-use-getting-younger-more-expansive/
Very brief piece cites CDC minor figures ('11 vs. '12 cmoparison), cites MI Dep't of Community Health Dr. who delivers a boilerplate "they contain carcinogens" remark, and then uses the old "BT is at it again" meme.
[ MI appears to have several simple minor sales bans in the works - SB 667/8 HB 4997 5007. None of them are out of cmte yet. ]
Title: State Health Department Doctor Calls for Regulating E-Cigarettes
(Grand Rapids MI US Clear Channel affiliate) http://www.woodradio
.com/articles/wood-news-125494/eciggarettes-under-fire-12124193#ixzz2v8ncIlEI
This is almost a carbon copy of the above story, which cites the same statistics and the same official (Dr. Matthew Davis.)
---
US: MINNESOTA
Title: After vigorous debate, E-cigarette restriction bill clears Senate panel
(Minneapolis MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/politics/statelocal/248431331.html
Relatively junk-free report on senate bill SF 2027, which would expand MN's clean air act to ban indoor and outdoor vaping, as well as impose a minor sales ban. Refers to Gregory Conley's testimony. SF 2027 has cleared one Senate cmte, but goes next to a joint House/Sen. joint cmte before it can reach either floor.
[ MN also has two other bills in the house that would do similar things: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-minnesota-e-cigarette.html ]
Title: Council divided on e-cigarette measure
(Austin MH US local paper) http://www.austindailyherald
.com/2014/03/council-divided-on-e-cigarette-measure/
Final vote on Austin's extension of its clean indoor air act to cover vaping will occur one week from today, on Mon, 3/17. From what I can tell, it appears that it may either pass by one vote, or fail by a tie vote. Vapers in Austin MN are urged to contact their city council members, and to make plans to appear at the meeting next week. County health officials and the ALA are all lobbying in favor of the ban, which I believe will also cover outdoor vaping in public parks, municipal parking lots, and a number of other locations.
---
US: WISCONSIN
Title: Wisconsin bill would exempt e-cigarettes from ban
(AP) http://www.twincities
.com/news/ci_25278388/wisconsin-bill-would-exempt-e-cigarettes-from-ban
Very brief junk-free report notes that the Sen Judiciary cmte was scheduled to hear testimony today on the CASAA-supported resolution to explicitly exempt vaping from the state's indoor clean air act. This is only the second state inthe country which is considering such a bill. (Story was filed at 4AM this morning; I can't find anything more recent. See CASAA call for support: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-updated-support.html
---
US: SOUTH DAKOTA
Title: E-cigarette ordinance approved
(Aberdeen SD us local paper) http://www.aberdeennews
.com/news/local/e-cigarette-ordinance-approved/article_5bf16ae3-40c0-5973-8e99-980e9cec6ad3.html
Simple minor ban passed by city council. Aberdeen SD is the only US local jurisdiction to my knowledge that has ever declined to pass a proposed ord. that would treat vaping as smoking. Apparently one of the City Council members is a vaper. No junk.
[ SB 181, a simple minor sales ban, now ready for the Sen. floor. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-nicotine-products-vapor-products-minors.html Opposed by ACS in accordance with their usual policy to oppose all bills that fail to define vaping as smoking. ]
---
US: OKLAHOMA
Title: Legislation to ban underage e-cigarette use ready for House vote
(Coweta OK US newspaper amalgam web site)
OK's HB 2904 is ready for the house floor. This is a simple minor sales ban. Normally ANTZ orgs such as the ACS oppose these bills unless they redefine vaping as smoking. This one does, but not for the purposes of taxes (these are explicitly excempted) or - as far as I can tell - for purposes of the indoor clean air act. So why exactly the ACS is supporting this one is a mystery to me. No junk except CDC minor stats, although the sponsoring Rep. seems convinced that minors are being "targeted."
[ 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: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/oklahoma-ok.html ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Harm of e-cigarettes is overstated
(Sam Houston St. U. TX US student paper) http://www.houstonianonline
.com/viewpoints/harm-of-e-cigarettes-is-overstated-1.2859059#.UxYTxs5obfg
Pro-vaping article contains no junk. Interesting analysis of the NYC hearing and the tactics which were used. "The New York ban was possible because the only evidence submitted was baseless conjecture and opinion." Piece takes no explicit position on taxation, regulation, clean air acts, etc., although one gets the sense that the writer opposes indoor/outdoor vaping extensions of clean air acts. It concludes: "The electronic cigarette industry was worth $2 billion in 2013, and it's expected to double that this year. All evidence that we have so far makes the industry an example of a consumer product doing well by doing good. We should advocate it as the public health boon that it is now, before municipal bans become more common and the FDA weighs in on its classification. Failure to do so has a real consequence -- quantifiable in human lives."
Title: Denison council approves e-cigarette ordinance
(Sherman TX/Ardmore OK CBS affiliate) http://www.kxii
.com/home/headlines/Denison-could-prohibit-E-Cigs-in-public-places-248291211.html?ref=211
City of Denison TX defines vaping as smoking for purposes of its indoor clean air act, and bans sales to minors. No report on the decision except that "City officials say it's to make Denison a healthier place for residents to live."
---
US: WASHINGTON (STATE)
Title: Lawmakers mulling steep tax hike on E-cigarettes
(Seattle WA US ABC affiliate) http://www.komonews
.com/news/local/Lawmakers-mulling-steep-tax-hike-on-E-cigarettes-248483391.html
To my astonishment, this article contains not a smidgen of junk, and consists of comments from local vapers and vape shop owners. It also describes WA's (now) 75% tax bill as "hastily written."
[ Washington's HB 2795 has been incorporated into the budget, will impose a 95% tax. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-cigs-95-referred-senate-ways-means-cmte.html and http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-washington-bill-to.html text of 2795: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House Bills/2795.pdf ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: [Editorial by SF City Councilperson Eric Mar:] Treat e-cigarettes just like the real kind
http://www.sfgate
.com/opinion/openforum/article/Treat-e-cigarettes-just-like-the-real-kind-5289066.php
All you need to know is contained in this sentence which may have been the only part of this editorial actually written by the Councilperson (?): "My e-cigs legislative proposal is supported by our partners at the Tobacco Free Coalition, UCSF researchers, the San Francisco Unified School District, and many youth and health organizations. This is a commonsense approach that gives businesses, the public and law enforcement clear guidelines for this new nicotine product."
[ See CASAA Call on SF, hearing tomorrow at 2PM (city hall): http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-san-francisco-california.html ]
Title: Santa Maria Council Adds E-Cigarettes to Smoking Ban
(SB Co. CA ind. web site) http://www.noozhawk
.com/article/santa_maria_city_council_adds_e-cigarettes_smoking_ban_20140305
Very brief story reports that Santa Maria city council voted unanimously to define vaping as smoking for purposes of its indoor and outdoor clean air act. No ratinale was given, but the City Librarian who requested the change was quoted as saying: "... a cigarette is a cigarette whether it’s a cigarette or an e-cigarette.
[ 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: [Ad:] New Research Shows E-Cig Vapor Contains Similar Toxins to Outdoor Air and Human Breath
(SF CA US business paper amalgam site) http://www.bizjournals
.com/sanfrancisco/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2014/03/03/MN74002
Yes, this is a paid press release placement. At least it's not paid for with your tax dollars, as are similar advertisements placed by The Legacy Foundation and other ANTZ organizations such as CLEARWAY MN. I'm listing it only because this is the first case that I've seen in which our side pays for space in the public press. Bravo, it's about time that our side did so.
Title: NEW: California’s culture could slow rush toward e-cig bans
(CA US libertarian commentary site) http://calwatchdog.com/2014/03/03/e-cig-bans-face-a-tough-test-in-california-culture/#sthash
.dQ1762TY.dpuf
Part story, part opinion/editorial, this junk-free piece argues that vapers in California will essentially ignore draconian anti-vaping laws by discreetly vaping - i.e. by doing what vapers refer to as "stealth vaping." And - according to the author - no one will really care about this form of "civil disobedience."
Title: E-Cigarette Ban: No Facts, No Logic, No Problem
(US Nat'l Conservative web site) http://townhall
.com/columnists/brandonarnold/2014/03/05/ecigarette-ban-no-facts-no-logic-no-problem-n1804074/page/full
The title pretty much says it all. As you'd expect from Town Hall, this is portrayed as a strictly partisan issue.
Title: Los Angeles Looks To Join The Growing List Of Cities Banning Smoking E-Cigarettes Indoors
(US Nat'l liberal web site) http://thinkprogress
.org/health/2014/03/04/3357101/los-angeles-cig-smoking-ban/
It's another hit job piece by Think Progress' reporter who apparently specializes in churning out one of these every month or so. Cites FDA '09 as a 2011 study. The writer does a credible job of portraying the struggle an a simple conflict between a $2B industry and selfless advocates for public health.
***
COLLECTION: LA CA coverage
General coverage of LA's vote yesterday. Most of the unique articles have been picked out, there are very few variations. Naturally the wire services such as AP, BBC, and Reuters tend to have the least junk. I've also listed local coverage after that, on the grounds that the LA times and the local network affiliates may have the best info./contacts.
Title: Los Angeles OKs workplace ban on e-cigarette use
(AP) http://www.sacbee
.com/2014/03/04/6208662/los-angeles-oks-workplace-ban.html#storylink=cpy
Title: E-cigarette ban for Los Angeles
(BBC) http://www.bbc
.com/news/technology-26452778
Title: Los Angeles City Council approves e-cigarette ban
(Reuters - int'l) http://www.reuters
.com/article/2014/03/04/us-usa-ecigarettes-california-idUSBREA2324920140304 (Jer. Post Israel nat'l) http://www.jpost
.com/Breaking-News/Los-Angeles-City-Council-approves-e-cigarette-ban-344318
Title: Los Angeles moves to ban e-cigarettes, joining NY, others
http://www.reuters
.com/article/2014/03/05/us-usa-ecigarettes-california-idUSBREA2324920140305 (Yahoo News - US) http://news.yahoo
.com/los-angeles-city-council-approves-e-cigarette-ban-000452238--sector.html
Title: Los Angeles approves sweeping e-cigarette restrictions
(LA Times CA US - local/nat'l LA paper) http://www.latimes
.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-los-angeles-ecigarettes-ban-20140304,0,4359853.story#axzz2v3WGOsIR
Title: L.A. Council Approves Ban on E-Cigarettes Where Tobacco Is Prohibited
(LA CA US Trib./Fox TV affiliate) http://ktla
.com/2014/03/04/l-a-city-council-approves-ban-on-e-cigarette-use-where-tobacco-is-prohibited/#axzz2v7rjlq1v http://q13fox
.com/2014/03/04/l-a-city-council-approves-ban-on-e-cigarette-use-where-tobacco-is-prohibited/#axzz2v8EjHPXZ
Title: L.A. Council Approves Restriction of E-Cigarette Industry
(Bloomberg int'l bus.) http://www.bloomberg
.com/news/2014-03-04/l-a-poised-to-limit-1-5-billion-e-cigarette-industry.html
Title: L.A. E-Cigarette Ban Approved
(LA CA US local alternative press paper) http://www.laweekly
.com/informer/2014/03/04/la-e-cigarette-ban-approved
Title: Health Experts Don't Buy Into L.A.'s E-Cigarette Ban
(LA CA US Gen-Y-targeting web site by Gothamist) http://laist.com/2014/03/04/regulations_on_e-cigarette_usage_ap
.php
Title: Partial Ban Approved on E-Cigarettes in Los Angeles
(LA CA US local NBC affiliate) http://www.nbclosangeles
.com/news/local/Los-Angeles-City-Council-E-Cigarette-Ordinance-Ban-Nightclubs-Bars-Public-Places-248345331.html
Title: LA City Council Votes To Ban E-Cigarettes In Public Areas
(LA CA US local CBS affiliate) http://losangeles.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/04/la-city-council-to-consider-e-cigarette-restrictions-in-public-areas/ http://www.cbsnews
.com/news/los-angeles-bans-e-cigarettes-in-most-public-places/
Title: L.A. City Council Votes to Ban E-Cigarettes From Bars, Restaurants, Parks
(Slate - US Nat'l website) http://www.slate
.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/03/04/los_angeles_city_council_approves_broad_e_cigarette_ban.html
***
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 tomorrow 2pm at City Hall: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-san-francisco-california.html
2) New studies coming: two studies of minor use of vaping (20,000 by CDC, 400,000 by California), new Roswell Park Cancer Inst. Study of nicotine absorbtion.
3) Simple minor sales bans advance: to OK house floor; signed in OH; passed in Aberdeen SD.
4) Indoor clean air act bills advances in MN, WI bill to exempt vaping from indoor clean air act heard for the first time in cmte today.
5) Austin MN to consider extending clean indoor act to include vaping on Mon March 17th.
6) Denison TX, and Santa Maria CA define vaping as smoking to extend their clean indoor air acts, along with LA coverage (at end).
7) New questions over minor use of "vape pens" and "e-hookahs" raised by CDC and California Tobacco control authorities.
Coverage: UK/Wiltshire, Canada/BC, US States: PA, FL, GA, OH, MI, MN, WI, SD, OK, TX, WA, CA
Also: Siegal takes on despicable KC ANTZ editorial, and RI Gov. tax; R.J. Reynolds to buy Lorrilard rumors continue; Altria (PMI's) big gamble on dry herb vaporizer technology for tobacco; UK advertising regulators look into VIP ad and work on guidelines; Dr. Siegal on RI; Gary Cox on the EU and (again) on NJOY's $1B capitalization.
***
BLOGS, STUDIES, ETC.
Title: Another Tobacco Control Professional Declares that We Don't Know if Smoking is any More Hazardous than Vaping
(Dr. Siegal's Blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/another-tobacco-control-professional.html
Dr. Siegal addresses a despicable piece run Sunday by the Kansas City KS local paper - which your correspondent characterized yesterday as implying that vaping is no safer than smoking, and went on to say: "This article is a perfect example of what I always say about hit pieces: if you want a professional job, then hire a professional ANTZ." It's nice to see someone with real credibility take on trash like this.
Title: Why is the Governor of Rhode Island Trying to Help Protect Big Tobacco from Competition?
(Dr. Siegal's Blog) http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/why-is-governor-of-rhode-island-trying.html
Dr. Siegal on RI's HB 7133, which would impose an 80% wholesale tax on vaping (both e-juice and equipment). Also see: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/01/call-to-action-rhode-island-bill-sets.html
Title: Roswell Seeks Volunteers for Electronic Cigarette Study
(Buffalo NY US - re: Roswell Park Cancer Inst.) http://www.wgrz
.com/story/life/2014/03/04/roswell-seeks-volunteers-for-electronic-cigarette-study/6050059/
RPCI seeks volunteers for a study described as: "Up until now, there have not been many scientific studies on e-cigarettes, so researchers really want to see if there are any risks. They also want to find out just how beneficial vaping can be for smokers trying to quit. They will compare the nicotine levels of people who are smokers, non-smokers, e-cigarette users and those who use both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Those are most likely people who vape to try to stop using tobacco all together. Researchers call them dual-users." We won't know what the results of this study will be until we see the grant application. Volunteers will be selected from both the US and Poland. More ominously: "'We want to find out how much nicotine users of electronic cigarettes can get from these devices. We also want to know if these devices can reduce risks of getting cancer, being exposed to different chemicals from tobacco smoke,' says Dr. Maciej Goniewicz."
Title: New Product Directive Looms
(ECF's InfoZone) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/new-product-directive-looms.html
Gary Cox asks whether some of the TPD's weaknesses could actually turn out to be usable against it.
Title: Money Talks: Let’s Listen In
(ECF's InfoZone) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/money-talks-lets-listen.html
What do the investors who have gambled a billion dollars in NJoy really know, that the rest of us don't?
***
WORLD
Title: E-Cigarettes, Under Aliases, Elude the Authorities
(US Nat'l Paper) http://www.nytimes
.com/2014/03/05/business/e-cigarettes-under-aliases-elude-the-authorities.html?_r=0
Report claims (based on reports from Tobacco Control officials) that many minors are confused about what an "e-cigarette" actually is, and therefore that the recent studies on minor use of PVs have actually underestimated the extent. Some PV manufacturers of all-in-ones (AKA "cigAlikes") are describing their products as "vape pens" or "e-hookahs" to "to reach an audience that wants no part of e-cigarettes" (quote is from the article, not from a manufacturer). Your correspondent was a bit confused at first, when he googled "vape pen" and discovered that Cross sells a "vapor pen" (which is - yes, a real ball point pen.). To add to the ambiguity, there are also "dry herb vaporizers" which can be used for both dry tobacco and other dried herbs. (This appears to be the technology that's referenced in the WSJ story listed next.) However this NYT piece is talking about PVs that use e-liquid as we vapers know it. Article reports that the CDC is currently sending a survey to 20,000 students nationwide that "asks about e-cigarette experimentation, but does not identify the devices by other names." [It's not clear what that the phrase "other names" means.] California is surveying 400,000 students. (One has to wonder why they aren't surveying adult vapers for cessation information. Or perhaps this isn't a mystery.) In any event, it's clear that there will be more alarming study results on minor PV usage available soon. The results will undoubtedly justify a requirement of F2F sales (i.e. no internet sales), which will in turn allow local regulation, taxes, and restrictions on new B&M licenses. Bans on outdoor vaping by adults in locations where children may be present - such as sidewalks - may also appear more justifiable.
Title: Can Big Tobacco Grow Again?
(US Nat'l Business) http://blogs.wsj
.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/03/03/how-the-cigarette-industry-plans-to-make-tobacco-grow-again/
Not-terribly-informative report on Altria's (formerly PMI) new heated tobacco hybrid "cigarette" that produces vapor from tobacco in leaf form. Altria is gambing nearly $700M on a new European facility to manufacture these. Junk-free. Note: if you get a pay wall message, close your browser and clear your cookies.
Title: Lorillard Shares Soar After Report Reynolds American Eyeing Takeover
(US Nat'l Business) http://blogs.wsj
.com/moneybeat/2014/03/03/lorillard-shares-soar-after-report-reynolds-american-eyeing-takeover/
More on the speculation that's been building for months that R.J. Reynolds would buy Lorillard. No mention of PVs, but Lorillard makes Blu. If this merger is approved by FTC regulators, it would result in the US's largest tobacco firm, with only Altria (formerly PMI) as its competitor. It would also set the stage for a head-to-head matchup between two almost-equally-sized titans in the US "all in one" (AKA cigAlike) market for PVs. No junk. As w/ all WSJ articles, close your browser and clear your cookies if you get a pay wall message. Here's a similar junk free story from a local NC paper: http://www.journalnow
.com/business/business_beat/british-media-reports-reynolds-american-interested-in-buying-lorillard/article_3665835e-a309-11e3-a669-001a4bcf6878.html
***
UK NATIONAL
Title: E-cigarette television advertising to be investigated
(UK Nat'l paper) http://www.theguardian
.com/media/2014/mar/04/e-cigarette-advertising-investigated-british-american-obacco
Junk free report on review of British advertising standards for vaping products by the Committee on Advertising Practice (CAP). CAP's sister body, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned VIP's salacious "put it in my mouth" ad yesterday. BAT (makers of VYPE, which has also launched a large advertising campaign) welcomes the review. No comments in this article from VIP.
Title: Farage lobbies for 'remarkable' e-cigarettes in video after donation from maker
(UK Nat'l paper) http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10677680/Farage-lobbies-for-remarkable-e-cigarettes-in-video-after-donation-from-maker.html
Nigel Farage, leader of the tiny UKIP and MEP from S.E. England appears in videos urging the EU to avoid passing the TPD article 18, which regulates PVs. Story indicates that the party recieved a total of £36K (US $60K) in the last year from the makers of Totally Wicked. The UKIP is a small Libertarian-oriented breakaway from the Conservative Party that left after Major signed Maastrict. It has never won a seat in the Commons. No junk.
---
UK: WILTSHIRE
Title: As smokers go digital, what should employers do?
(WI UK local bus. paper) http://www.wiltshirebusinessonline
.co.uk/news/11051702.As_smokers_go_digital__what_should_employers_do_/?ref=var_0
Solicitor advises employers to treat vaping as smoking due to "uknown" risks. No junk other than the claim that there are "unkown risks," although the solicitor also seems to regard vaping as undesireable workplace behavior because: "The industrial relations point here is it also sends the wrong message to staff, who are likely to see this as a nod towards the acceptability of smoking more generally, which is of couse unhealthy" In other words: vaping looks like smoking, so permitting it in a work environment has a bad influence on employees.
---
CANADA: BC
Title: Vancouver School Board considers banning e-cigarettes
(Ca. amalgam web site - re: Van BC) http://globalnews
.ca/news/1185488/vancouver-school-board-considers-banning-e-cigarettes/
Vancouver school district to vote 3/10 on resolution to ban all vaping on its property. It appears that vaping by adults will be included in this ban, at the behest of the VC Lung Assn. Says the Lung ...'n smokeswoman, apparently speaking for the school board: "The school board recognizes that youth may be attracted to the flavours, to the act of mimicking smoking to appear to be grown up, and it just puts one more obstacle in the way." In other words: children need to be protected from being potentially influenced by the sight of adult vapers.
***
US NATIONAL
Title: Los Angeles To Restrict E-Cigarette Use [audio only - not really about LA]
(US Nat'l Public Radio, probably destined for rebroadcast/syndication to other NPR stations) http://hereandnow.wbur
.org/2014/03/05/la-e-cigarettes
This was the perfect "ANTZ fest" - Brian King, adviser to the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC, and Emily McDonald who wasn't identified as a researcher in UCSF's Tobacco Control Center. Aside from the fact that the moderator appeared to be prepared with a list of ANTZ talking points, what's noteworthy about this hit job piece was that both King and McDonald focused on minors. King had to be prompted on both the issue of "second hand vapor" and the cessation issue. What he said on both issues was precisely what you'd expect: namely, little is known about the danger to bystanders (but the evidence suggests that we should be very afraid of the nicotine, and other toxins), and there's no evidence that PVs are of value as a cessation tool, in fact all the evidence suggests that they create more analog use. Nevertheless, King leads with the dangers to minors, the "renomalization of smoking" and the threat that PVs allegedly pose to society. This has become the new ANTZ meme, and it's clear from the LA City Council's decision that this was central to their case.
Title: NY Times Editorial Board gets it wrong on EU e-cigarette regulations
(ACSH web site) http://acsh
.org/2014/03/ny-times-editorial-board-gets-wrong-eu-e-cigarette-regulations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ny-times-editorial-board-gets-wrong-eu-e-cigarette-regulations
ACSH response to Sunday's NYT editorial. No junk, but rather conclusory. For ex., the piece correctly points out that the CDC statistics on minor use of PVs are misleading, but doesn't say way. It's one thing for the ANTZ to simply recite conclusions in an environment in which most readers are predisposed to think of vaping as smoking and (justifiably) loathe past BT practices, and quite another to respond to such claims with little more than bare assertions. Internal links are provided in the story, but ACSH should know better than to rely upon readers to click them. This piece will convince few if any readers who aren't already on our side.
---
US: PENNSYLVANIA
Title: Should e-cigarettes be regulated?
(Indiana PA US local paper) http://www.indianagazette
.com/news/opinions/redblue-america-should-ecigarettes-be-regulated,19425958/
This piece is being republished/syndicated in a number of places. It was first printed Friday in the L.I. Newsday under the title: "Should E-cigarettes have regulation immunity?" and yesterday in the LA Daily News under the same title. I was hoping for a bit more thought on both sides: the focus seems to be on the psychology behind the demand for regulation. That said, the "ANTZ" advocate isn't terribly ANTZ-like, and his points are refreshingly jnk-free.
---
US: FLORIDA
Title: Up in smoke - As e-cigarette popularity rises, societal questions remain
(U So. FL US student paper) http://www.usforacle
.com/up-in-smoke-1.2859098#.UxXmQs5obfg
This student-written article is mainly interesting for the relatively balanced remarks made by Thomas Brandon, identified as a [U. So. Fl.] professor of psychology and oncologic sciences and director of the Tobacco Research and Intervention Program at Moffitt Cancer Center," who appears to embrace vaping as harm reduction. He says: "It has the potential, if everything works out perfectly, to save hundreds of thousands of lives in America." As most vapers know, it's extremely unusual for any professional Tobacco researcher / Tobacco Control expert to take a position like this. He even goes so far as to say: "There needs to be more research into the liquid used in e-cigarettes, but all the ingredients are safe as far as we know. He also gives the ANTZ a bit of a pass, "Brandon said the skepticism of the health community is warranted, as methods to reduce the harm of tobacco have proved frivolous before." He also refers to (without using the word) the objective of "denomalizing" smoking, but doesn't seem to embrace the idea of doing the same with vaping - i.e. treating vaping for all purposes as identical to smoking. It's worth repeating that deviations from the ANTZ party line are extremely rare among his colleagues in the Tobacco Control industry, so this is worth a read for that reason alone.
[ FL simple minor ban, SB 224 is ready for Sen. Floor on March 4 when legislative session opens, also see: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...would-block-electronic-cigarettes-minors.html ]
---
US: GEORGIA
Title: CDC warning: Students smoking unsafe e-cigarettes in school
(Atlanta GA US Cox/ABC affiliate) http://www.wsbtv
.com/news/online/site-information/history-wsb-tvchannel-2/nDqnS/
Yet another in a series of stories that we've seen recently about minors. Since the CDC HQ is in Atlanta, it's not clear whether this started out as a story on GA's simple minor ban, or whether it was initiated by the CDC: "'We do have reports, including from the Atlanta area, of kids in public high schools using e-cigarettes in the classroom to vape, because it doesn't have an odor, is small and can be used surreptitiously,' said Dr. Tim McAfee, CDC director of the Office on Smoking and Health."
[ GA's SB 347 and HB 251 are simple minor bans, but with internet age verification requirements. Both still in cmte. ]
---
US: OHIO
Title: Ohio governor OKs ban on e-cigarette sales to kids
(AP) http://www.fox19
.com/story/24894518/ohio-governor-oks-ban-on-e-cigarette-sales-to-kids
Gov. Kasich signs OH's simple minor sales ban. No junk. No other bills appear to be pending in OH.
---
US: MICHIGAN
Title: E-Cigarette Use Getting Younger, More Expansive
(Detroit MI US CBS affiliate) http://detroit.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/04/e-cigarette-use-getting-younger-more-expansive/
Very brief piece cites CDC minor figures ('11 vs. '12 cmoparison), cites MI Dep't of Community Health Dr. who delivers a boilerplate "they contain carcinogens" remark, and then uses the old "BT is at it again" meme.
[ MI appears to have several simple minor sales bans in the works - SB 667/8 HB 4997 5007. None of them are out of cmte yet. ]
Title: State Health Department Doctor Calls for Regulating E-Cigarettes
(Grand Rapids MI US Clear Channel affiliate) http://www.woodradio
.com/articles/wood-news-125494/eciggarettes-under-fire-12124193#ixzz2v8ncIlEI
This is almost a carbon copy of the above story, which cites the same statistics and the same official (Dr. Matthew Davis.)
---
US: MINNESOTA
Title: After vigorous debate, E-cigarette restriction bill clears Senate panel
(Minneapolis MN US local paper) http://www.startribune
.com/politics/statelocal/248431331.html
Relatively junk-free report on senate bill SF 2027, which would expand MN's clean air act to ban indoor and outdoor vaping, as well as impose a minor sales ban. Refers to Gregory Conley's testimony. SF 2027 has cleared one Senate cmte, but goes next to a joint House/Sen. joint cmte before it can reach either floor.
[ MN also has two other bills in the house that would do similar things: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-minnesota-e-cigarette.html ]
Title: Council divided on e-cigarette measure
(Austin MH US local paper) http://www.austindailyherald
.com/2014/03/council-divided-on-e-cigarette-measure/
Final vote on Austin's extension of its clean indoor air act to cover vaping will occur one week from today, on Mon, 3/17. From what I can tell, it appears that it may either pass by one vote, or fail by a tie vote. Vapers in Austin MN are urged to contact their city council members, and to make plans to appear at the meeting next week. County health officials and the ALA are all lobbying in favor of the ban, which I believe will also cover outdoor vaping in public parks, municipal parking lots, and a number of other locations.
---
US: WISCONSIN
Title: Wisconsin bill would exempt e-cigarettes from ban
(AP) http://www.twincities
.com/news/ci_25278388/wisconsin-bill-would-exempt-e-cigarettes-from-ban
Very brief junk-free report notes that the Sen Judiciary cmte was scheduled to hear testimony today on the CASAA-supported resolution to explicitly exempt vaping from the state's indoor clean air act. This is only the second state inthe country which is considering such a bill. (Story was filed at 4AM this morning; I can't find anything more recent. See CASAA call for support: http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-updated-support.html
---
US: SOUTH DAKOTA
Title: E-cigarette ordinance approved
(Aberdeen SD us local paper) http://www.aberdeennews
.com/news/local/e-cigarette-ordinance-approved/article_5bf16ae3-40c0-5973-8e99-980e9cec6ad3.html
Simple minor ban passed by city council. Aberdeen SD is the only US local jurisdiction to my knowledge that has ever declined to pass a proposed ord. that would treat vaping as smoking. Apparently one of the City Council members is a vaper. No junk.
[ SB 181, a simple minor sales ban, now ready for the Sen. floor. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-nicotine-products-vapor-products-minors.html Opposed by ACS in accordance with their usual policy to oppose all bills that fail to define vaping as smoking. ]
---
US: OKLAHOMA
Title: Legislation to ban underage e-cigarette use ready for House vote
(Coweta OK US newspaper amalgam web site)
OK's HB 2904 is ready for the house floor. This is a simple minor sales ban. Normally ANTZ orgs such as the ACS oppose these bills unless they redefine vaping as smoking. This one does, but not for the purposes of taxes (these are explicitly excempted) or - as far as I can tell - for purposes of the indoor clean air act. So why exactly the ACS is supporting this one is a mystery to me. No junk except CDC minor stats, although the sponsoring Rep. seems convinced that minors are being "targeted."
[ 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: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/infozone/news/oklahoma-ok.html ]
---
US: TEXAS
Title: Harm of e-cigarettes is overstated
(Sam Houston St. U. TX US student paper) http://www.houstonianonline
.com/viewpoints/harm-of-e-cigarettes-is-overstated-1.2859059#.UxYTxs5obfg
Pro-vaping article contains no junk. Interesting analysis of the NYC hearing and the tactics which were used. "The New York ban was possible because the only evidence submitted was baseless conjecture and opinion." Piece takes no explicit position on taxation, regulation, clean air acts, etc., although one gets the sense that the writer opposes indoor/outdoor vaping extensions of clean air acts. It concludes: "The electronic cigarette industry was worth $2 billion in 2013, and it's expected to double that this year. All evidence that we have so far makes the industry an example of a consumer product doing well by doing good. We should advocate it as the public health boon that it is now, before municipal bans become more common and the FDA weighs in on its classification. Failure to do so has a real consequence -- quantifiable in human lives."
Title: Denison council approves e-cigarette ordinance
(Sherman TX/Ardmore OK CBS affiliate) http://www.kxii
.com/home/headlines/Denison-could-prohibit-E-Cigs-in-public-places-248291211.html?ref=211
City of Denison TX defines vaping as smoking for purposes of its indoor clean air act, and bans sales to minors. No report on the decision except that "City officials say it's to make Denison a healthier place for residents to live."
---
US: WASHINGTON (STATE)
Title: Lawmakers mulling steep tax hike on E-cigarettes
(Seattle WA US ABC affiliate) http://www.komonews
.com/news/local/Lawmakers-mulling-steep-tax-hike-on-E-cigarettes-248483391.html
To my astonishment, this article contains not a smidgen of junk, and consists of comments from local vapers and vape shop owners. It also describes WA's (now) 75% tax bill as "hastily written."
[ Washington's HB 2795 has been incorporated into the budget, will impose a 95% tax. See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-cigs-95-referred-senate-ways-means-cmte.html and http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-washington-bill-to.html text of 2795: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House Bills/2795.pdf ]
---
US: CALIFORNIA
Title: [Editorial by SF City Councilperson Eric Mar:] Treat e-cigarettes just like the real kind
http://www.sfgate
.com/opinion/openforum/article/Treat-e-cigarettes-just-like-the-real-kind-5289066.php
All you need to know is contained in this sentence which may have been the only part of this editorial actually written by the Councilperson (?): "My e-cigs legislative proposal is supported by our partners at the Tobacco Free Coalition, UCSF researchers, the San Francisco Unified School District, and many youth and health organizations. This is a commonsense approach that gives businesses, the public and law enforcement clear guidelines for this new nicotine product."
[ See CASAA Call on SF, hearing tomorrow at 2PM (city hall): http://blog.casaa.org/2014/02/call-to-action-san-francisco-california.html ]
Title: Santa Maria Council Adds E-Cigarettes to Smoking Ban
(SB Co. CA ind. web site) http://www.noozhawk
.com/article/santa_maria_city_council_adds_e-cigarettes_smoking_ban_20140305
Very brief story reports that Santa Maria city council voted unanimously to define vaping as smoking for purposes of its indoor and outdoor clean air act. No ratinale was given, but the City Librarian who requested the change was quoted as saying: "... a cigarette is a cigarette whether it’s a cigarette or an e-cigarette.
[ 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: [Ad:] New Research Shows E-Cig Vapor Contains Similar Toxins to Outdoor Air and Human Breath
(SF CA US business paper amalgam site) http://www.bizjournals
.com/sanfrancisco/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2014/03/03/MN74002
Yes, this is a paid press release placement. At least it's not paid for with your tax dollars, as are similar advertisements placed by The Legacy Foundation and other ANTZ organizations such as CLEARWAY MN. I'm listing it only because this is the first case that I've seen in which our side pays for space in the public press. Bravo, it's about time that our side did so.
Title: NEW: California’s culture could slow rush toward e-cig bans
(CA US libertarian commentary site) http://calwatchdog.com/2014/03/03/e-cig-bans-face-a-tough-test-in-california-culture/#sthash
.dQ1762TY.dpuf
Part story, part opinion/editorial, this junk-free piece argues that vapers in California will essentially ignore draconian anti-vaping laws by discreetly vaping - i.e. by doing what vapers refer to as "stealth vaping." And - according to the author - no one will really care about this form of "civil disobedience."
Title: E-Cigarette Ban: No Facts, No Logic, No Problem
(US Nat'l Conservative web site) http://townhall
.com/columnists/brandonarnold/2014/03/05/ecigarette-ban-no-facts-no-logic-no-problem-n1804074/page/full
The title pretty much says it all. As you'd expect from Town Hall, this is portrayed as a strictly partisan issue.
Title: Los Angeles Looks To Join The Growing List Of Cities Banning Smoking E-Cigarettes Indoors
(US Nat'l liberal web site) http://thinkprogress
.org/health/2014/03/04/3357101/los-angeles-cig-smoking-ban/
It's another hit job piece by Think Progress' reporter who apparently specializes in churning out one of these every month or so. Cites FDA '09 as a 2011 study. The writer does a credible job of portraying the struggle an a simple conflict between a $2B industry and selfless advocates for public health.
***
COLLECTION: LA CA coverage
General coverage of LA's vote yesterday. Most of the unique articles have been picked out, there are very few variations. Naturally the wire services such as AP, BBC, and Reuters tend to have the least junk. I've also listed local coverage after that, on the grounds that the LA times and the local network affiliates may have the best info./contacts.
Title: Los Angeles OKs workplace ban on e-cigarette use
(AP) http://www.sacbee
.com/2014/03/04/6208662/los-angeles-oks-workplace-ban.html#storylink=cpy
Title: E-cigarette ban for Los Angeles
(BBC) http://www.bbc
.com/news/technology-26452778
Title: Los Angeles City Council approves e-cigarette ban
(Reuters - int'l) http://www.reuters
.com/article/2014/03/04/us-usa-ecigarettes-california-idUSBREA2324920140304 (Jer. Post Israel nat'l) http://www.jpost
.com/Breaking-News/Los-Angeles-City-Council-approves-e-cigarette-ban-344318
Title: Los Angeles moves to ban e-cigarettes, joining NY, others
http://www.reuters
.com/article/2014/03/05/us-usa-ecigarettes-california-idUSBREA2324920140305 (Yahoo News - US) http://news.yahoo
.com/los-angeles-city-council-approves-e-cigarette-ban-000452238--sector.html
Title: Los Angeles approves sweeping e-cigarette restrictions
(LA Times CA US - local/nat'l LA paper) http://www.latimes
.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-los-angeles-ecigarettes-ban-20140304,0,4359853.story#axzz2v3WGOsIR
Title: L.A. Council Approves Ban on E-Cigarettes Where Tobacco Is Prohibited
(LA CA US Trib./Fox TV affiliate) http://ktla
.com/2014/03/04/l-a-city-council-approves-ban-on-e-cigarette-use-where-tobacco-is-prohibited/#axzz2v7rjlq1v http://q13fox
.com/2014/03/04/l-a-city-council-approves-ban-on-e-cigarette-use-where-tobacco-is-prohibited/#axzz2v8EjHPXZ
Title: L.A. Council Approves Restriction of E-Cigarette Industry
(Bloomberg int'l bus.) http://www.bloomberg
.com/news/2014-03-04/l-a-poised-to-limit-1-5-billion-e-cigarette-industry.html
Title: L.A. E-Cigarette Ban Approved
(LA CA US local alternative press paper) http://www.laweekly
.com/informer/2014/03/04/la-e-cigarette-ban-approved
Title: Health Experts Don't Buy Into L.A.'s E-Cigarette Ban
(LA CA US Gen-Y-targeting web site by Gothamist) http://laist.com/2014/03/04/regulations_on_e-cigarette_usage_ap
.php
Title: Partial Ban Approved on E-Cigarettes in Los Angeles
(LA CA US local NBC affiliate) http://www.nbclosangeles
.com/news/local/Los-Angeles-City-Council-E-Cigarette-Ordinance-Ban-Nightclubs-Bars-Public-Places-248345331.html
Title: LA City Council Votes To Ban E-Cigarettes In Public Areas
(LA CA US local CBS affiliate) http://losangeles.cbslocal
.com/2014/03/04/la-city-council-to-consider-e-cigarette-restrictions-in-public-areas/ http://www.cbsnews
.com/news/los-angeles-bans-e-cigarettes-in-most-public-places/
Title: L.A. City Council Votes to Ban E-Cigarettes From Bars, Restaurants, Parks
(Slate - US Nat'l website) http://www.slate
.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/03/04/los_angeles_city_council_approves_broad_e_cigarette_ban.html
***
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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