FDA Panel-o-Experts' Menthol Decision Due Soon

[PaulB]

Menthol: Mystery Ingredient In Cigarettes Enters The Spotlight : NPR

Among the piece's quotes "Young people seem to gravitate to menthol-flavored cigarettes..." Really? Always? (What part of "gravitate" am I misunderstanding?)

If the FDA is thinking as fuzzily as the language of this report, look for a wrong-headed decision coming to a Federal Register near you soon.

 

[LowThudd]

That is litterally the same coarse of action they took with other flavored cigs. No more Djarum cigs, only "cigars" now, and they don't taste the same(still trying to find a juice for that). I know quite a few menthol smokers who would lose control of their better judgement if they were banned.

 

[Mr.Stick]

Ick. And the catch-22 here is that after they ban menthols, having already hit the other flavors, someone is bound to notice that "young people tend to gravitate toward tobacco flavored tobacco...", as, of course, everyone would since that'll be the only variety left.

Yeesh.

 

[rothenbj]

This will be the true test of TC, to they have the ..... to ban them. They certainly are the most popular of the flavors, well, other than the flavors the use in tobacco flavor,

My guess.....Nyet Amerika, we need to study this more, right BT?

 

[Vocalek]

Hoo-boy. They will have a riot on their hands. We may see a march on Rockville. The FDA has noted that a lot of African Americans smoke menthol. FDA may see itself as the hero for trying to save all those lives by banning menthol. Somehow, I don't think the African Americans will appreciate the favor.

 

[KDK]

Good!!!!! I'm starting to think that that is just what this country needs is a good old fashioned uprising and outcry. And the FDA needs to be taken down more than a peg or two- maybe a whole lot of pegs!

 

[PaulB]

Well, if there is an outcry it will be a first. Not one of the many anti-tobacco moves in this country over the last few decades has so much as rattled a proverbial teacup, save the odd public smoking ban defeat or repeal. Everybody will roll over and act grateful. But I do suspect underground tactics of after-market menthol "spiking" of cigarettes will become commonplace. DIY for smokers.

 

[Our House]

Well, if there is an outcry it will be a first. Not one of the many anti-tobacco moves in this country over the last few decades has so much as rattled a proverbial teacup, save the odd public smoking ban defeat or repeal.

Maybe, but this will be the first time it's racial.

 

[rothenbj]

Posted on NPR on a thread about Menthol cigarettes-

Menthol: Mystery Ingredient In Cigarettes Enters The Spotlight : NPR

Sharon McEachern (Wichita77) wrote:

And now if the FDA would test and forbid the electronic cigarettes (e-cigs)which manufacturers and distributors promote as "safe" cigarettes. They are not without nicotine and dangerous chemicals but they are "smokeless" and instead have nicotine as a vapor which is inhaled into users' lungs. Still coffin nails, but people can use them in public places because they lack the smoke. But they are NOT SAFE.

Ethic Soup has a great series of posts on e-cigarettes beginning with:

Ethic Soup: Hey, Hey, FDA, Whaddaya Say: Are E-Cigarettes Safe, Okay?

 

[Our House]

Sharon McEachern (Wichita77) wrote:

And now if the FDA would test and forbid the electronic cigarettes (e-cigs)which manufacturers and distributors promote as "safe" cigarettes. They are not without nicotine and dangerous chemicals but they are "smokeless" and instead have nicotine as a vapor which is inhaled into users' lungs. Still coffin nails, but people can use them in public places because they lack the smoke. But they are NOT SAFE.

Nothing displays someone's ignorance better than using ex post facto reasoning (assuming your conclusion first, then gathering evidence to support it after). Religious fundamentalists would welcome this lady with open arms.

 

[Shad0w]

Law Enforcement Highlights Tobacco Contraband Issue -- SPRINGFIELD, Va., July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Law Enforcement Highlights Tobacco Contraband Issue

Asks FDA For Thorough Study by Experts

SPRINGFIELD, Va., July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Expressing a "heightened concern" about an un-elected regulatory agency that may enact a ban on currently lawful products, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) asked the Food and Drug Administration to assure a thorough study by qualified experts of the ramifications on the illegal tobacco trade if menthol cigarettes are outlawed.

LEAA Executive Director James J. Fotis repeated earlier concerns that a new form of 'prohibition' on a high demand product could create an illegal market that would overwhelm law enforcement and judicial systems and divert resources from more pressing problems similar to those seen after Prohibition in the 1920's. He expressed concern about counterproductive mandates on law enforcement, about whether an FDA advisory panel is qualified to study contraband markets, and why the FDA has not moved to study the contraband issue despite a mandate in law to do so.

Fotis said in the letter: "We are increasingly concerned that the FDA and its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) is not qualified to study the issue of contraband or law enforcement's concerns associated with it." And, "...it appears no members have expertise in the workings of illicit or contraband markets of the type that would be created by the ban under consideration."

He added: "Even if one assumes that TPSAC or the FDA is qualified to study the contraband issue, we find no evidence of movement toward studying this issue." Fotis also observed that they have not, "...reached out to educate themselves about the very real possibility that banning currently lawful classes of cigarettes will cause explosive growth in unregulated, contraband cigarettes."

Today, Fotis points out that, "bans and prohibitions of currently legal products regularly bought and sold in our society are a tough public policy proposition." Adding that, "when a ban or prohibition is enacted it should come from those elected to Congress, those who the voters can hold accountable, not some un-elected, un-accountable 'faceless' agency." Fotis also observed, "In 1994 Congress outlawed an entire group of products associated with guns and as a direct result many in Congress were voted out and control of the House shifted from Democrats to Republicans."

Fotis has asked the FDA to ensure the program is "being implemented in accordance with the law and that the impact on police and creating more contraband is thoroughly analyzed."

For information about LEAA please visit: Home

I can easily see riots and Prohibition era like smuggling/black market happening.

The FDA are seemingly trying their best to alienate everyone....

 

[Vocalek]

Nothing displays someone's ignorance better than using ex post facto reasoning (assuming your conclusion first, then gathering evidence to support it after). Religious fundamentalists would welcome this lady with open arms.

Correct. My D-I-L, a religious fundamentalist, sent me the link to the Ethics Soup post as "proof" that e-cigarettes are dangerous and told me that she "doesn't approve."

Correction: It was not the link Jim posted. Sharon has written a half-dozen articles on the topic, all equally misinformed. This was the link my D-I-L sent. Notice that comments are closed. Sharon apparently can't handle anyone disagreeing with her. http://www.ethicsoup.com/2009/07/fd...sing-chemicals-and-a-antifreeze-compound.html

 

[rothenbj]

Elaine, I believe I linked to the first in her series. The rest appeared under the first article. She had one comment, dissed it, then seems to have closed all correspondence. I can't believe your DIL used the info from there to base her "objectivity".

What a world we live in today. OT, I've been waiting for Emily's follow up and last article from Madison. She promised it earlier in the week after speaking with Johnson Creek. She did mention that she might take a visit there and also that she may be speaking to SmokeFree Wisconsin (oh joy). She had mentioned last Thursday as the date, but it never showed up. Could she have possible had to dig deeper for this last one?

 

[Bill Godshall]

I'm dissappointed that NPR's Brenda Wilson misrepresented lots of evidence about menthol, as menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes have been consitently found to be similarly addictive, similarly hazardous and similarly difficult to quit.

A silver lining is that the story ran on Friday afternoon in the middle of July when most Americans don't pay attention to news.

 

[Vocalek]

Grr... I couldn't take it any more.

The Truth About Nicotine: Unethical Soup

 

[PaulB]

Grr... I couldn't take it any more.

The Truth About Nicotine: Unethical Soup

Elaine striking (yet) another blow for reason! I'm a fan!

 

[sherid]

Posted on NPR on a thread about Menthol cigarettes-

Menthol: Mystery Ingredient In Cigarettes Enters The Spotlight : NPR

The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation supports NPR, so you will never hear anything good about e cigs from NPR unless BP has its own e cig.

 

[rothenbj]

Grr... I couldn't take it any more.

The Truth About Nicotine: Unethical Soup

I posted a comment to her latest topic-

"Sharon, your stance on electronic cigarettes was challenged at the following URL-
The Truth About Nicotine: Unethical Soup
Unable to find a link to private email for you, I elected to post this comment to your latest post.
I,personally, tried to comment to your series of articles on this subject but you decided to lock down these articles for some reason. Hopefully, it wasn't to bury your head in the sand.
There is quite a bit of information on the subject of electronic cigarettes as well as other harm reduction products and your articles to a disservice to the science."

 

[Vocalek]

And I did invite her to comment to my blog...

 

[kristin]

Grr... I couldn't take it any more.

The Truth About Nicotine: Unethical Soup

Great post, Elaine!

That woman is so INFURIATING!!

She will certainly have egg on her face once the truth comes out!