US Politicians Say Vaping “Probably Kills”
Five top bosses from e-cigarette companies faced a grilling from ignorant US politicians last week with some outrageous claims made including “vaping probably kills.”
Yes…really…
The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce – and breathe lol – called in the 5 for the: Vaping in America: E-Cigarette Manufacturers’ Impact on Public Health.
And it would appear the e-cig executives took a right mauling and barely put up a defense.
The chair of the committee – Frank Pallone from anti-vape state New Jersey, currently has Bill HR 2339 passing through the House that could quite literally decimate vaping as we know it in the USA.
That legislation if passed, would finish off any of the vape industry left in the USA after the PMTA’s kick in – a knockout blow if you like.
Those quizzed were:
- Antoine Blonde, president of Fontem U.S. makers of Blu
- K.C. Crosthwaite, CEO of JUUL Labs
- Jerry Loftin, president of Logic Technology Development
- Ryan Nivakoff, president of NJOY
- Ricardo Oberlander, president and CEO of Reynolds American Inc. – Vuse
Palone told the 5:
I heard all of you over and over again say you were responsible men, men of integrity.
That is not true.
People who have integrity and are responsible don’t sell products that…you admit make people sick, probably kill people.
*sighs*
As I said – and you can see for yourself from the video from the hearing – the 5 stayed pretty much tight lipped.
One would have hoped for a better defense – however as I’ve said before, no one wants to hear the facts about vaping in America – especially the politicians eager for 15 minutes of virtue signalling fame in an election year.
E-cigarettes Strongly Linked To Drop In Europe’s Smoking Rates
New research suggests smokers are 5 times more likely to quit if they switch to e-cigarettes.
The study carried out by pro-vaping medical expert Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos M.D, is a follow up to research that looked at data between 2012/15.
Researchers then found smokers were 3x more likely to quit using e-cigarettes.
The new data comes from the Eurobarometer 2017 survey and shows a remarkable increase.
The result also showed the number of vapers who had never smoked was negligible to say the least.
Dr Farsalinos said:
Unsurprisingly, and in agreement with other studies, we found a strong association between current daily e-cigarette use and being a former (rather than a current) smoker.
Specifically, we found that daily e-cigarette use was associated with 5-fold higher odds of having quit smoking in 2015-2017, and with 3-fold higher odds of having quit smoking in 2012-2015.
Another important finding of the study was that e-cigarette use was extremely rare among former smokers who had quit before the availability of e-cigarettes, showing that e-cigarettes do not result in relapse to an inhalational habit for these former smokers.
He also warned the current global anti-vaping climate is putting smokers off from making the switch and this could and will cost lives:
The study provides additional evidence that smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit with other approved methods should be encouraged to switch to e-cigarettes.
Unfortunately the current global environment is so intimidating that smokers are discouraged from using e-cigarettes while vapers are relapsing back to smoking due to fear about their health.
This is an irony and is in complete disagreement with research on e-cigarettes safety/risk profile and efficacy as smoking substitutes.
Unfortunately, emotions, dogmatism and politics are currently prevailing over scientific evidence, and this is damaging for public health.
I hope the European authorities will consider the current and many other studies, and take appropriate steps to tackle the misinformation on e-cigarettes.
I’ve said it before, we are very lucky to have such a learned man supporting vaping.
Disposables Next Target For USA Anti-Vape Crowd
The USA closed pod flavour ban kicked into law last week but that’s not enough for the crazed anti-vape groups in the States.
They say that teens in particular are getting around the ban thanks to a loophole in the new legislation that still allows the sale of disposable vape pens.
Dr. Karen Wilson is a tobacco expert based at Mount Sinai medical school in New York and says:
They are very accessible and seem to be the new buzzy product.
Ummm…
It seems banning the closed pods has achieved nothing and if anything made it a boom time for disposables – which lets face it are pretty dire.
Plus they’re mainly sold in convenience stores and gas stations – hardly the bastions of age ID.
As we’ve always said – banning does nothing but push the demand elsewhere.
Baroness Backs Vaping After Silly Questions In the House Of Lords
As ignorant questions from politicians go, the one from Baroness Redfern ranks as one of the most stupid yet.
The Tory member of the House of Lords asked:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ban e-smoking from all hospital grounds.
WTF is e-smoking?
Like I said – ignorant ain’t the word lol.
The reply showed exactly how the UK has embraced vaping with more and more NHS grounds now with pro-vape policies.
Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford said:
The Government has no plans to introduce legislative proposals to ban e-cigarettes on hospital grounds.
The Government believes in the proportionate regulation of e-cigarettes, recognising that they are not risk-free.
Through the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, we have introduced measures to regulate e-cigarettes which reduce the risk of harm to children, protect against the risk of renormalisation of tobacco use, provide assurance on relative safety for users, and give businesses legal certainty.
Public Health England has published advice to help employers to introduce policies around the use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces.
Baroness Blackwood also told the House of Lords that e-cigatettes were NOT tobacco products!
Well said M’Lady 🙂
Baroness Redfern had asked:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether people who vape are given the same access to NHS services as people who smoke who are seeking to quit; and if not, why not.
And M’Lady answered:
Stop smoking services are designed to help people who wish to stop using tobacco products and offer a range of options to support.
E-cigarettes are not tobacco products and therefore people using them are not eligible for stop smoking services.
We would still advise everyone that not smoking/quitting entirely is the best option.
Well, I have to say I do like Baroness Blackwood 😉
That last question is really quite interesting as it suggest the NHS should open up its stop smoking clinics to vapers looking to quit…
I have a feeling this is a new anti-vape angle that might grow…
Is JUUL Short Of Cash?
According to business insiders vape giant JUUL has the begging bowl out and needs at least $700 million as its valuation continues to fall.
And according to some online media sources JUUL’s staff – already cut by 650 jobs – are at an ‘all time low’.
The company has been under intense pressure from all sides this past year and now the 35% stock buyout by Big Tobacco’s Altria looks like a bad investment according to those in the know.
It’s been reported the $700 million is needed for marketing and distribution and Altria are refusing to cough up – bad news especially business experts reckon they’ll need even more cash in the near future.
However it is prepared to continue funding JUUL’s attempt to get a Pre Market Tobacco Agreement – without which would see the company unable to sell its product in the USA.
The company’s sales has fallen by around 25% this past 12 months – tough times indeed.
and finally…Cannabis Vape Pen Gets An Oscar!
It’s the Oscars today – yawns – and the goodie bags given to the winners contains a very special vape pen.
It’s a 24k gold device made by Hollow Tips, and is apparently a nod to vaping actor and heart throb Leonardo Dicaprio.
The movie star has often been seen tooting on a vape device and is also up for another Oscar this year.
The Hollow Tips vape pen is designed for those that vape on cannabis or CBD vape juice, and retails around £116.
The Oscar goodie bag has a total value of an eye watering £170,000 + and includes a cruise and cosmetic treatments worth almost £20,000!
There’s also a bunch of CBD goodies including chocolate edibles and drinks and more expensive products.
Dicaprio has won an Oscar in the past for his part in the film Revenant – which is of course the name for another vape mod.
Good to see vaping getting a part in this year’s Oscar’s, but still a show/event I have absolutely no interest in…
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More vape news on Wednesday – and if you missed it – do check out my article in response to the ITV Vaping Documentary – How Safe Is Your Vape?
It was a total biased hit piece and I’ve now suggested ITV is an acronym for Idiots Trashing Vaping 😉
