Attention New Zealanders

[Vocalek]

CASAA's science advisor, Dr. Carl V. Phillips attended the conference of the European Society for Research on Nicotine and tobacco (SRNT) in Turkey last week, where he met and talked with Dr. Murray Laugesen of Health New Zealand. I'll let Carl tell you in his own words. This is from his postings on CASAA's Facebook page:

Carl Phillips

I have a few more random observations to offer about conversations and talks.

Talking to Murray Laugesen and some other from NZ, I am quite intrigued by the way things are headed there. It sounds like the government is actually tending a bit toward looking for the opportunity to do that right thing re THR. I recall commenting in our forthcoming chapter (in the Marlatt memorial HR book) that New Zealand and Australia have the advantage of having smaller and thus potentially more responsive governments, and thus THR policies could happen quickly. I felt this was a bit too optimistic perhaps, certainly for Australia, but it looks like it might be working out that way.

One thing Murray emphasized to me a couple of different times, though, was that NZ needs to have an effective consumer group -- or any consumer group at all. Even if it is not CASAA-sized, something like what is brewing in Australia would be good. (He also suggested to me that not nearly enough is happening in the UK in this vein and that I should move there. Don't worry -- not going to happen.)

So, if anyone has any connections or anything going on in NZ, please let me know. I would love to get hooked into what might become a success story.

 

[Inedia]

I'm in NZ, and there isn't much available here at the moment. I'd like to fix that by becoming a supplier, but I'm really not sure where to start.