Government of Canada takes action to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco use (FYI)

[Smok-ey]

Just an FYI thought that this is so ridiculous...

Proposed measure delivers on the Prime Minister's commitment to further restrict flavoured cigars
September 29, Ottawa, ON - Health Canada
Today, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, announced new proposed regulatory amendments that would further restrict flavoured tobacco products that appeal to youth.

Canada was the first country in the world to take action on "little cigars" in 2010 when The Cracking Down on tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth came into force, banning the use of flavoured additives that contributed to making cigarettes, little cigars and blunt wraps more appealing to youth. Unfortunately, tobacco companies have skirted the law and found a "loophole" through the introduction of new cigars in the same "kiddie" flavours as those that were on the market before the 2009 law, merely changing the weight or removing filters. The proposed changes would close this loophole.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Canada, responsible for more than 37,000 deaths each year. The direct health care costs of smoking and other tobacco uses are estimated at $4.4 billion annually, and the total burden to the economy including indirect costs (e.g. lost wages, productivity) is estimated at $17 billion per year. Minister Ambrose is a strong advocate to end smoking, especially among our youth. Young Canadians continue to use flavoured tobacco products, including flavoured cigars.

A formal 30-day consultation period will begin when a Notice describing the proposed amendments is published in Canada Gazette, Part I on October 10, 2014. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit their comments on the proposal online or via regular mail during the consultation period.

Due to a lack of evidence on the benefits or harms of e-cigarettes, Minister Ambrose announced that she is asking the Standing Committee on Health to study the potential risks and benefits of e-cigarettes and to seek the advice of a variety of health stakeholders.
Later this week, Health Ministers from across Canada will gather for their annual meeting. At this meeting, Minister Ambrose and her colleagues will discuss tobacco and e-cigarettes.
[h=2]Quick Facts[/h]

• The 2012-2013 Youth Smoking Survey found that among youth (grade 6 to 12) reporting having used at least one tobacco product in the last 30 days, two in five (40%) reported using a flavoured little cigar or a flavoured cigar during the same period, representing approximately 126,000 Canadian youth.
• The Youth Smoking Survey also found that the prevalence of youth in grades 6 to 12 who reported using at least one flavoured tobacco product in their lifetime has decreased from 19% in 2008-2009, to 15% in 2012-2013.
• The proposed amendments would prohibit most flavours and selected additives in cigars weighing more than 1.4 grams but less than 6 grams, as well as in cigars that use tipping paper or do not feature a wrapper fitted in spiral form.

Full Text at the following link:
Government of Canada takes action to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco use - Canada News Centre

 

[Smok-ey]

I think they are running out of ideas. If you ask me if they are looking for some ideas, I would have a couple... You want to ban cigarette instead of e-cigarette, if you want to ban e-cigarette then ban all tobacco and all smoking cessation tool.

I mean come on, they are really telling people that youth will be more bound to smoke cigarette or e-cigarette rather than going to drink alcohol and smoking a joint?

If you are going to ban something start banning alcohol, glue, gasoline, over the counter Nyquil, as this is a heavy drug when mixed with alcohol, coffee, reb bull/monsters and maybe idiotic thoughts... But banning idiots would just make this world be more productive instead of stupid and making the public think more than less.

I mean she will discuss this with her colleagues? ... why not have all the facts on the table and then have the same thing that the FDA and the WHO are doing... Sitting down signing Kumbaya with a glass of wine and maybe smoking a joint will help the fact that they don’t even know what they are talking about... Just trying to buy more time to this issue, actually it’s not even an issue... They are making it an issue because they know that Big Tobacco Company will be losing and are losing money.

But let’s be realistic here how much is 1 million out of 100 billion...

And it's frustrating me that Health Canada cannot provide me the simple less answer to my question, always returning to their HC advisory dated in 2009... In 2009... Without any updates nor answers. I mean we are in 2014 going on 2015... Should they have more information on this?

 

[Nana Gail]

All these bans,rules and regulations have worked such wonders with the war on drugs haven't they? I think the definition of STUPIDITY applies here. When will the OH SO SMART leaders of our Countries realize that the more you BAN,REGULATE, MAKE ILLEGAL, the more attractive these things become to curious youngsters! and the richer smugglers and Blackmarketeers will get!