HEADS UP - NEWS - UPDATES! (When we know, you'll know!)

[kristin]

It's more important than ever that alternatives to cigarettes be kept available, affordable & appealing--to reduce the risks from smoking--especially for our vulnerable parents & grandparents. Together we reduce harm!

#GivingTuesday #GivingTuesdayNow

Please read: A Message from CASAA CEO Alex Clark: Today is “Giving Tuesday Now” - CASAA

 

[kristin]

MISSOURI: (CALL TO ACTION!) A de facto BAN on the sale of #vaping products--disguised as an expensive "licensing/registration" bill (SB 1085) that only allows sale of products with filed PMTA--is working its way to a Senate floor vote. Take action NOW!

MO - Stop a Vapor Ban Disguised as Product Registration!

 

[kristin]

May 7, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Researchers find flavor bans not evidence-based. South African smokers and vapers forced to get creative. Community faith leaders warn of consequences of bans. Maryland vape tax vetoed. Jeff Stier's opinion on science and nicotine.
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RESEARCH: "That ship has sailed." <-Senior author of University of Michigan youth vaping survey to policymakers/public health officials who think that banning flavors will be the answer. Says "an evidence-based approach” is what's needed, while allowing adults continued access.

Survey: 'Cool' factor, not flavor, drives teens to vape - Futurity
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TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION AROUND THE WORLD: South African COVID-19 tobacco and vapor product sales ban results in people smoking tea (and likely whatever else they can find) & black market sales. Petition demanding repeal now over 500,000.

#BansDontWork #VapingSavesLives

Homemade Cigarettes Ingredients From Tea Go Viral In Mzansi.
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TOBACCO & VAPE POLICY: "Criminalizing the sale of products people wish to consume only encourages the establishment of illicit trade to provide these products to consumers who want them." <-Pastor KW Tulloss & Rev. William Smart

#BansDontWork #ReformPMTA

This Is How a Ban on Tobacco Looks: Unintended Consequences - Los Angeles Sentinel
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OPINION: "The idea of making baseless statements and potentially removing vaping products from the marketplace in the midst of the crisis seems like an exceptionally reckless idea, as it would send countless former smokers back to cigarette smoking."
~Jeff Stier

Nicotine Policy Should Not Be Exempt From Science
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MARYLAND: (UPDATE) Along with several other bills, @GovLarryHogan has vetoed HB 732, which included a 12% #vaping product tax, calling the bills "misguided" and stating it was "unconscionable to raise taxes and fees" at a time when so many are struggling.

Maryland governor vetoes bills mandating increased spending, taxes, including Kirwan
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[kristin]

May 19, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Oakland, CA and NY state adult flavor bans. CASAA article highlights a caring community. Nova Scotia denies THR advocate his oxygen and housing because vaping same as smoking. Tea smoking in South Africa reveals 2 truths. Research of youth lung injury patients.
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OAKLAND, CA: (UPDATE) Can the FLAVOR BAN argument that it's about "the children" really be believed when the so-called "loophole" they closed only allowed sales of flavored #vaping products in areas restricted to ADULTS 21 & up?

#QuitLying #WeVapeWeVote

Oakland Bans Sale Of Flavored, Menthol Tobacco Products In Tobacco Stores, Pharmacies
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COMMUNITY & HARM REDUCTION: "Even as vapers and vape shops contend with reduced access to low-risk products due to forced closures, flavor bans and looming regulations, their thoughts turn to helping others...."

#VapeFam #WeAreCASAA #VapingSavesLives

Even With Shut Down and Devastating Bans, Vaping Community Still Helping People - CASAA
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BAD HEALTH POLICY: Nova Scotia unscientifically defining vaping as "combustible," leads to denying vulnerable citizens--incl pioneering THR/vaping advocate @RayYeates2--housing, care & life-saving oxygen. Join CASAA & @INNCOorg in calling out Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness @nshealth!

Vape Advocate Refused Oxygen Faces Death | Ecigclick
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NEW YORK: (UPDATE) Governor Cuomo's FLAVOR BAN is effective today. It's already legal ONLY to adults over the age of 21, so banning flavors does NOTHING to lower teen experimentation. It just denies ADULTS over 90% of the vapor products that helped them quit smoking, forcing them back to CIGARETTE FLAVORS.

#QuitLying #WeVapeWeVote


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THE MORE YOU KNOW: 1) Doc warns of dangers of smoking TEA, making same point we've been all along. It's the SMOKE, not nicotine, causing the major health risks. And 2) BANS DON'T WORK. They only drive people to using as or more deadly alternatives!

High tea: Why South Africans have been told to stop smoking rooibos
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RESEARCH: Majority of adolescents diagnosed with "vaping-related" lung injuries got the products from "informal sources" NOT retail & over 81% admitted to using THC products. Yet governments continue to punish retailers for so-called "teen epidemic."

Demographics, Substance Use Behaviors, and Clinical Characteristics of Adolescents With EVALI
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[kristin]

CALIFORNIA: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!)

Flavor ban bill SB 793 passed Senate Committee on Health with little debate and virtually no resistance. Contact the committee consultant and your lawmakers. Share your story and urge them to reject SB 793!

TAKE ACTION: CA - Stop a Statewide Flavor Ban!

 

[kristin]

May 22, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Call to Action Update in California. CASAA tells FDA to reject modified risk application for Very Low Nicotine cigarettes. Michigan vape shop prevails against flavor ban. Vape junk science continues.
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CALIFORNIA: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) Flavor ban bill SB 793 passed Senate Committee on Health with little debate and virtually no resistance. Contact the committee consultant and your lawmakers. Share your story and urge them to reject SB 793! TAKE ACTION: CA - Stop a Statewide Flavor Ban!
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CASAA IN ACTION: Advertising your products contain “95% less nicotine” & "helps reduce your nicotine consumption" (as though nicotine is the main risk in smoke) & still claim the public will understand they are actually NOT "safer" cigarettes? Just...no.

CASAA to FDA: Reject Claims on Very Low Nicotine Cigarette Label - CASAA
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MICHIGAN: (UPDATE) Good news! The Court of Appeals UPHELD the preliminary injunction AGAINST Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s flavor ban! In a harshly worded 13-page concurring opinion attached to the ruling, Judge Mark Boonstra called Whitmer’s order “government overreach.”

Michigan appeals court sides with vape shop, against flavored vaping ban
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JUNK VAPE SCIENCE: Study claims public "wrongly" believes vaping not as bad for bone healing as smoking, b/c each have nicotine & "similar chemicals," brushes off HUGE significance of "varying degrees." Current research only "suspects" nicotine so...not proven.

New study shows majority of patients do not believe e-cigarettes and vapes impact bone fracture healing
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[zoiDman]

...

MICHIGAN: (UPDATE) Good news! The Court of Appeals UPHELD the preliminary injunction AGAINST Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s flavor ban! In a harshly worded 13-page concurring opinion attached to the ruling, Judge Mark Boonstra called Whitmer’s order “government overreach.”

Michigan appeals court sides with vape shop, against flavored vaping ban

...

 

[kristin]

June 3, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Justice for a vaping advocate. CASAA CEO in the media. South Africa and Taiwan bans prove bans don't work. A win in Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington. Check out new resources on CASAA's web site.
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VAPE COMMUNITY: Funds raised from this effort are going to provide vaping advocacy pioneer @RayYeates2 with the home oxygen system, portable oxygen unit & affordable, sustainable place to call home denied to him & his wife by the Nova Scotia authorities.

#SaveRayYeates organized by Jaye Blancher
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SCIENCE-FREE POLICIES: South Africa tobacco/vapor ban proves #BansDontWork. Instead of reducing smoking, only 16% quit. Some who quit PLAN to smoke again, while others likely to relapse within 12 months. Huge price increases (similar to sin taxes) didn't inspire quitting, either!

How South Africa's Coronavirus Tobacco Prohibition Backfired
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BAD HEALTH POLICY: HPA report finds 42% more young Taiwanese now SMOKING than #vaping (81k vs 57k,) yet health officials inexplicably blame vaping for increase. Is it possible FAR FEWER would be smoking if sale of vapor products wasn't ILLEGAL? #QuitLying

Number of young Taiwanese smoking rises for f... | Taiwan News
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JACKSON, WYOMING: (UPDATE) Businesses/vape advocates have helped table the flavor ban being considered by the town until the next meeting on June 15th. More people getting involved and speaking out against the ban could help stop this from being passed!

Town council passes public-building smoking ordinance, tables vaping vote
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CASAA IN THE NEWS: CASAA CEO Alex Clark tells reporter why the flavor ban in NY is bad for consumers.

“Taking vapor products, which are safer nicotine alternatives, from people who smoke or switched from smoking is a bad and irresponsible decision...."

State ban on sale of flavored vaping products takes effect
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THE MORE YOU KNOW: CASAA's website has State pages that provide advocates with up-to-date info, state laws, Calls to Action, advocacy tips & contact info. Check out our "Snapshot of Vaping Laws & Taxes" page & don't forget to join CASAA for email updates!

Snapshot of Vaping Laws & Taxes - CASAA
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TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON: (UPDATE) In rare good news, an injunction that keeps the Health Department from enforcing unreasonable regulations on vape shops was upheld Tuesday by an opinion of a three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article243219151.html
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[kristin]

June 4, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Anti-tobacco/vaping laws are endangering people. Dr. Paul Sachs of Stamford Health says adult vapers don't want flavors, so add your testimony. CASAA director Julie Woessner panel discussion video. CASAA coordinating with research.
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BAD HEALTH POLICIES: Officials were warned such bans would lead to unnecessary, potentially harmful police interactions for a LEGAL product. This is a scientifically baseless outdoor ban (yes, it includes vaping.) Lies used for the war on people who smoke are also used on vapers.


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VAPING TRUTH: Thanks to all who replied about Dr. Paul Sachs of @StamfordHosp saying “A 40-year-old smoker trying to quit is not going to seek out Cap’N Crunch-flavored vapes." Dr. Sachs, we'd like you to meet vapers over 40 proving you wrong! You can see many, many more ADULT VAPERS OVER 40 who need, want and enjoy these nostalgic and sweet flavors on our Facebook page at CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

Add your testimony on our Facebook or Twitter thread!

#QuitLying #AdultVapersDemandFlavors


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ADVOCACY: In the week before #WorldVapeDay & #WorldNoTobaccoDay, busy CASAA director @JustJulie_MO (who also serves as INNCO board president,) spoke on a panel discussion with Dr. David Abrams & Dr. Raymond Niaura (NYU School of Global Public Health) about WHO report on vaping.


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RESEARCH: CASAA is cooperating with researchers from the Department of Life Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK! This cross-sectional study will look at real vapers' habits and compare self-reported health of people who vape vs smoke.

Questionnaire on Vaping and Smoking Habits & Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms Survey for Vapers and Smokers
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[Rossum]

RESEARCH: CASAA is cooperating with researchers from the Department of Life Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK! This cross-sectional study will look at real vapers' habits and compare self-reported health of people who vape vs smoke.

Questionnaire on Vaping and Smoking Habits & Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms Survey for Vapers and Smokers

Questionnaire completed.

 

[DavidOck]

Done.

 

[kristin]

June 12, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
California officials just keep on denying the facts. Heads up Colorado and Georgia. Dr. Marewa Glover survey looking for locked down vapers. ALA up to old ANTZ tricks. The problems in scientific publishing. CASAA testimonials.
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BAD PUBLIC HEALTH: Despite unequivocal proof that illicit THC vapes NOT legal, flavored nicotine vapes caused the lung injuries, @SDCountyHHSA Dr. Wilma Wooten continues to urge people not to vape nicotine & FLAVOR BAN still starts July 1st. #QuitLying

San Diego County woman dies of vaping-associated lung injury
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RESEARCH: Are you in a state/city still on COVID-19 lockdown in the USA? Please help out vaping/tobacco harm reduction advocate and researcher Dr. Marewa Glover (@MarewaGlover) complete her US data by taking her international survey!

Coping in lockdown | Coping in lockdown
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OUTRAGEOUS ANTZ TACTICS: Offer "training" to endorse their sponsors' pharmaceutical products--shown to FAIL for approx. 90% of people MOTIVATED to quit--over vapor products shown to be 2X more effective. Also, quit products are 0% effective for those who aren't trying to quit!

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GEORGIA: (HEADS UP) Public health or budget health? Tobacco/vape tax seems to have little to do with health and more to do with $454 million in revenue. Price increases hit poor & minorities hardest, shown to lead to black markets vs reduced smoking.

74% of Georgians support a tobacco tax increase, poll finds
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COLORADO: (HEADS UP!) Proposed bill has outrageous and baseless VAPE TAX of 50% of manufacturer’s list price until July 1, 2024; 56% until July 1, 2027; and 62% after. Only PLUS SIDE is that modified risk tobacco products would get a 50% tax reduction.

Colorado lawmakers consider putting tobacco and vaping tax on ballot
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CASAA TESTIMONIAL PROJECT
"The plural of anecdote is data."
~ Ray Wolfinger

Data is evidence. The people are real. The evidence is real.

Millions of vapers have success stories. CASAA has collected nearly 13,000 of them.

Add your story here: About CASAA Testimonial Project - CASAA

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UPLAND, CA: City joins several others w/ ALL public smoking/vaping ban--a law that has already led to a scary confrontation between a citizen & police officer in La Mesa, CA. There's NO science supporting OUTDOOR bans & misleads public about vaping risks!

Smoking, vaping in all public spaces banned in Upland – Daily Bulletin
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RESEARCH: Why not to assume "peer-reviewed, published scientific research" is infallible. (And especially true with anti-vaping/anti-THR research.)

“Brown called the article 'an absolute microcosm of all of the problems in scientific publishing.'"

‘How I got fooled’: The story behind the retraction of a study of gamers
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[kristin]

MONTANA: (CALL TO ACTION!) DPHHS sidestepping legislative process to ban flavored vapor products - forcing ADULTS to use flavor of what they've QUIT - based on lies like "non-tobacco flavors weren't popular until after JUUL arrived in 2015." #QuitLying

MT - Stop the Health Department Flavor Ban

 

[kristin]

FLORIDA: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) The likelihood of Gov. DeSantis making a decision about SB 810 (Flavor Ban) is increasing by the day. We need EVERYONE in Florida to make contact with the governor by email, phone, and tweet, urging him to VETO SB 810!
FL - Stop a Flavor Ban (VETO SB 810)! (UPDATED)

 

[kristin]

CALIFORNIA: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) Unsurprisingly, SB 793 (Flavor Ban) passed in the state Senate on Thursday. It now goes to Assembly committee. Don't wait! Please click the link and contact your reps NOW!

CA - Stop a Statewide Flavor Ban! (Updated)

 

[kristin]

June 29, 2020
(via CASAA Twitter @CASAAMedia)
Calls to Action in Michigan and Montana. Cities in Wisconsin, California and Montana blindly following ANTZ lies to ban flavored vapor products and public use. Nonsensical proposed ban on nicotine that's not in the form of cigarettes in Australia. Check out CASAA state web pages and state groups on Facebook!
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BARABOO, WISCONSIN: (HEADS UP!) Tara Noye, South Central Wisconsin Tobacco Free Coalition Coordinator, LIES about vaping. It's NOT a "misconception, "that vaping is safer than smoking, it's the TRUTH!

"Noye advocated for treating vaping products and cigarettes equally under the law to prevent a misconception that electronic smoking devices are less harmful than their actual-tobacco equivalent."

#QuitLying

Baraboo moves to ban vaping in public spaces
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MISSOULA, MONTANA: (HEADS UP!) Along with a proposed statewide flavor ban, residents of Missoula have their own city lawmakers considering a flavor ban. ANTZ lie, say 20 years of anti-smoking work being "undone" while ignoring record low smoking rates.

Missoula City Council mulling citywide ban on all flavored tobacco
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NAPA, CALIFORNIA: (UPDATE) City bans sale of flavored vapor products--even for ADULTS over 21, prohibits vaping in public spaces without any evidence of harm--and exaggerates risk of trace chemicals--misleading public to believe vaping same as smoking.

Napa City Council bans sale of flavored tobacco, passes more restrictive smoking ordinance
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MICHIGAN: (CALL TO ACTION UPDATE!) Bill with UNJUSTIFIED 18% tax increase & vague, confusing flavor rules has passed in Senate; moving to House Committee. Watch for hearing date! Remember that tax "compromises" did NOT prevent BANS in NY, NJ, MA and RI!

MI - Stop a Vapor Tax and Flavor Regulation!
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MONTANA: (CALL TO ACTION!) DPHHS sidestepping legislative process to ban flavored vapor products - forcing ADULTS to use flavor of what they've QUIT - based on lies like "non-tobacco flavors weren't popular until after JUUL arrived in 2015." #QuitLying

MT - Stop the Health Department Flavor Ban
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AUSTRALIA: Government's baseless "precautionary" ban will make it far, far more difficult to get nicotine from VERY LOW RISK #vaping than from smoking. Meanwhile, pro-vape UK smoking rates dropped 5.5 percentage points 2011-2018 while AU dropped only 2.3!

Government announces major crackdown to effectively ban nicotine imports
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ADVOCACY: Want to connect with fellow CASAA members in your state? Be sure to join your CASAA State Facebook Group at Facebook Groups - CASAA

Also, follow our official page at CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

Join the discussions with other members from around the country in the We Are CASAA group at We Are CASAA

And follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CASAAmedia

Don't forget to check out your state's info page and join CASAA for Calls to Action at Find My State Info - CASAA
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If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to join your CASAA state group to help prevent anti-harm reduction laws like these from spreading through the state! Link: CASAA.org - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Join CASAA here: Join CASAA - CASAA
Find your state info here: Find My State Info - CASAA

 

[WorksForMe]

@kristin, I keep getting call to action type emails from the CASAA Legislative Team wanting me to email my Senators about S.1253. The last one I got(this morning) said the bill might be brought to a vote on the Senate floor within an hour. This seems really odd.

1. You haven't posted anything here about it.
2. I don't see anything a CASAA's facebook page.
3. Congress.gov doesn't show any action on the bill since April of 2019.

Do you know anything about this?

.

 

[Katya]

This seems really odd.

I responded anyway. Did I do something wrong? But I agree that the wording sounded strange.

 

[WorksForMe]

I responded anyway. Did I do something wrong? But I agree that the wording sounded strange.

They just didn't seem right somehow. I was afraid to click any of the links.

.

 

[Katya]

They just didn't seem right somehow. I was afraid to click any of the links.

.

Here's the link--looks legit to me, but what do I know?

US - Keep Vape Mail Legal! (Reject S.1253)