A little context for vaping waste. Calls to Action for USA and Pennsylvania. Goodbye (and thank you) to AVA. FDA nixes Vuse menthol and mixed berry flavors. and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // Stop A Federal Tax!
If HR 5715 is enacted, consumers will be paying up to 6¢/mg of nicotine compared to 1.1¢/mg in cigarettes. The tax hike is just as bad, if not worse, for nicotine pouches, snus, and moist snuff — all reduced risk products compared to cigarettes!
TAKE ACTION: Fight a National Vapor Tax!
CALL TO ACTION // Pennsylvania: Stop a Flavor Ban!
HB 1161, which would ban tobacco and nicotine products in any flavor other than tobacco is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 9:00 AM.
TAKE ACTION: Pennsylvania: Fight a Flavor Ban!
TOBACCO CONTROL // A Little Context for Vape Waste
The latest attempts at villainizing vapor products is the hand-wringing over the “environmental waste” vaping produces – without putting it into any type of context.
Well, this article from New Scientist just provided much-needed context:
“Toys contribute 77 times more to the world’s invisible e-waste than vapes”
Risks associated with #vaping are typically exaggerated by those with an anti-vaping agenda
Toys produce 77 times more electronic waste than vapes, according to @UN
Vape waste needs to be reduced, but lets keep it in perspectivehttps://t.co/4JqOwEvbUm.@PennySharpemlc…— Dr Colin Mendelsohn (@ColinMendelsohn) October 12, 2023
READ MORE: Toys produce far more electronic waste than vapes
ADVOCACY // An End and a New Beginning
“The AVA was founded in 2014 by Conley and vape business owners trying to combat the slanted news coverage and misinformation campaigns vaping faced. Before that, he had served as the first Legislative Director of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA), which he had joined in 2010 while still attending law school at Rutgers University.
The AVA’s remaining funds will be split into donations to CASAA and the Influence Foundation, which funds the online publication Filter. Both organizations are dedicated to harm reduction.”
Reported by CASAA director Jim McDonald for Vaping360.com.
Thanks to @vaping360 for giving the AVA a proper send off.
For all the latest news, be sure to follow them, @CASAAmedia, and @VaporAmerican.
https://t.co/a1xZmAkmTF #BigVape— American Vaping Assn (@AVABoard) October 11, 2023
READ MORE: American Vaping Association Will Shut Down, But the Work Goes On
ADVOCACY // Thank You, Greg Conley and AVA!
“CASAA would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the Board of Directors at the American Vaping Association (AVA) and AVA President, Greg Conley, for your years of leadership and support….”
CASAA CEO Alex Clark (left) with Greg Conley (right) working together on the Right to Vape Tour bus in 2016.
READ MORE: Thank You Greg Conley and AVA!
FDA // Vuse Alto Menthol & Mixed Berry Pods Ordered Off the Market
The agency has only authorized 7 e-liquid vaping devices (one is no longer sold). All of the FDA-authorized products are manufactured by three Big Tobacco-owned companies. Of course, it didn’t take long for RJR to get a stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Reported by CASAA director Jim McDonald for Vaping360.com.
Update to yesterday’s story: On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.’s emergency motion for an administrative stay of the FDA’s MDO for Vuse Alto menthol products. #cspdailynews https://t.co/tBcdqzEoCQ
— Hannah Hammond (@hannah_hammond2) October 13, 2023
READ MORE: FDA Orders Vuse Alto Menthol Pods Off the Market
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // GTNF 2023 Summary
This is a worthwhile summary of the speaking points made at The Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF) 2023, including this tidbit from CASAA CEO Alex Clark:
“What is needed now is to disseminate the idea that nicotine users are not just data on a spreadsheet and to get that message out, elevating it up the chain to the regulator.”
READ MORE: Changing the Conversation
TESTIMONIALS // Real people. Real Stories.
Anecdote #13,532:
Thirty-eight year old James had smoked for 22 years and his health was rapidly declining. Just 2 months after ending up in the hospital, vaping changed his life for the better.
SUBMIT YOUR STORY: Submit Your Success Story to the CASAA Testimonial Project!
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
Join CASAA CEO Alex Clark and vice president Logan Evans as they view Alex’s recent discussion with scientist and harm reduction advocate Annie Kleykamp about her efforts to make sure older people who smoke aren’t left behind in THR.
Catch the show LIVE every-other Saturday at 4:30PM ET/3:30PM CT!
TAKE ACTION // CASAA State Facebook Groups
Have you joined your CASAA State Facebook group yet? Check it out now! Click the link below, click on your state on the map, then click the “Join Now” button to go to your state’s group page. It’s as easy as that to stay updated on local happenings, meet local advocates and never miss a Call to Action in your state!
Don’t forget to also follow our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CASAAmedia
FIND YOUR GROUP: CASAA State Locator
CASAA STORE // Apparel and More
Show your support by shopping our store! Our president (and brilliant website/swag designer) Danielle has added some awesome new designs to CASAA’s apparel shop!
VISIT: CASAA Apparel and Swag Store
CASAA MEDIA // Spotify
CASAA’s podcast is on Spotify! Please give us a follow here:
CASAA IN ACTION // Twitter Spaces
The week we recap the Reagan-Udall sessions with Amanda Wheeler, Tim Andrews and CASAA CEO Alex Clark, who all presented to the panel about FDA’s issues regulating reduced-harm products. What grade would you give FDA? Also available on CASAA’s Spotify channel (above.)
— CASAA (@CASAAmedia) October 26, 2022
CASAA MEDIA // Podcast
Catch up on past tobacco harm reduction news with Alex and Logan on the CASAA podcasts on SoundCloud every Monday and now live on YouTube and Facebook every Saturday at 3:30 PM.
