Biden follows Obama and Trump by caving to industry pressure to delay menthol ban

Last week the Biden White House announced it was delaying a decision on the FDA’s well-reasoned product standards that would end the use of menthol in cigarettes and cigars, sparking outrage from leaders in the African American community: The White House is ignoring the real human cost of delay. Based on the Biden FDA’s analysis, everyContinue reading “Biden follows Obama and Trump by caving to industry pressure to delay menthol ban”

New strong evidence that Juul is more toxic to lungs and hearts than earlier e-cigs

Two new papers strongly suggest that Juul (and, likely, other fourth generation e-cigarettes) are more dangerous than earlier tank systems.  One, Differential Toxicity of Electronic Cigarette Aerosols Generated from Different Generations of Devices In Vitro and In Vivo, finds that Juul has higher pulmonary toxicity than earlier tank systems and the second, Nicotine Formulation InfluencesContinue reading “New strong evidence that Juul is more toxic to lungs and hearts than earlier e-cigs”

E-cigs associated with increased heart attacks; dual use is worse

Muhammad Talal Ashraf and his colleagues recently published “Association between e‑cigarette use and myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta‑analysis” that pools the results of epidemiological studies and found that overall e-cigarette users are more likely to have had heart attacks than nonusers (odds ratio [OR] 1.44; 95% CI 1.22-1.74). They also found that dualContinue reading “E-cigs associated with increased heart attacks; dual use is worse”

The evidence that tobacco industry-affiliated studies are more likely to support industry positions continues to grow, this time regarding heated tobacco products

There is already strong evidence that studies funded by the tobacco industry (and other industries) are more likely to support industry positions on e-cigarettes and harm reduction. A new study from Japan shows the same thing for heated tobacco products (HTP). Suzuki, H.; Aono, N.; Zhang, Y.; Yuri, K.; Brou, M.A.M.B.E. Takemura, S.; Higashiyama, A.;Continue reading “The evidence that tobacco industry-affiliated studies are more likely to support industry positions continues to grow, this time regarding heated tobacco products”

Synthetic cooling agents make e-cigarettes more attractive and easier to inhale

Sales of “ice” e-cigarettes have been increasing rapidly, with US sales growing by more than 10 times from 2017 to 2021. In 2023 57.9% of US youth used ice e-cigarettes, often combined with other flavors (such as strawberry ice, frosted mint or tobacco ice). Ice e-cigarettes are being marketed around the world. The cooling effectContinue reading “Synthetic cooling agents make e-cigarettes more attractive and easier to inhale”

High tobacco industry influence increased in US in 2023, often working through third parties and front groups

Last month Action on Smoking and Health released its 2023 US Tobacco Industry Interference Index, the latest in a series of reports that assesses tobacco industry interference in US policy making against international standards (press release). The new report finds a modest increase in already-high industry interference in the US and provides many specific examples.Continue reading “High tobacco industry influence increased in US in 2023, often working through third parties and front groups”

Drop in smoking not correlated with increased youth vaping

E-cigarette advocates have often argued that the increase in youth e-cigarette use is not a problem because it represents youth shifting from cigarettes. Earlier work based on analysis of trends and risk profiles in youth participating in the National Youth Tobacco Survey has contradicted this assertion, showing that e-cigarettes were attracting youth at low riskContinue reading “Drop in smoking not correlated with increased youth vaping”

Astonishing: Health Canada makes it legal for flavoured nicotine products from Imperial Tobacco to be sold to children

The Health Ministry in Canada, which used to be a leader in tobacco control, has completely embraced the tobacco companies’ “harm reduction” agenda. It’s time for Prime Minister Trudeau to order them to put protecting health above standing aside for the tobacco companies to continue to expand their product lines. Unless the Canadian Government reversesContinue reading “Astonishing: Health Canada makes it legal for flavoured nicotine products from Imperial Tobacco to be sold to children”

Marijuana smokers have poorly functioning blood vessels like tobacco smokers  

Leila Mohammadi, Matt Springer and their colleagues at UCSF presented a study at today’s (November 13, 2023) American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions showing that smoking marijuana compromises blood vessel function just like smoking tobacco cigarettes does. This result is not surprising because marijuana smoke is not that different from tobacco smoke. It is alsoContinue reading “Marijuana smokers have poorly functioning blood vessels like tobacco smokers  “

Two new studies link marijuana with heart disease, including in non-tobacco smokers

Two papers are being presented today (November 13, 2023) at the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions that show marijuana use is associated with increased cardiovascular disease. The first, Daily Marijuana Use is Associated With Incident Heart Failure: “All of Us” Research Program reports a 34% increased risk of incident heart failure in daily recreationalContinue reading “Two new studies link marijuana with heart disease, including in non-tobacco smokers”