Author Archives: Stanton Glantz

Fight over rating for horror movie adds to case for R rating movies with smoking

Seeing smoking in movies causes kids to smoke. Since 2001 the Smokefree Movies campaign (now Smokefree Media) has urged an R rating for movies that include smoking or other tobacco use. The logic for this recommendation, which was based on advice we got from people inside the Hollywood community, was to create an economic incentiveContinue reading “Fight over rating for horror movie adds to case for R rating movies with smoking”

RJR non-menthol Newport cigs are “substantially equivalent” to RJR Newport menthol

There are three ways that a tobacco company can get authorization to sell a new tobacco product in the US.  The way that has attracted a lot of attention lately is through a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA); all the e-cigarettes have to go through this process.  There are also two easier processes: submit aContinue reading “RJR non-menthol Newport cigs are “substantially equivalent” to RJR Newport menthol”

Foundation for a Smokefree World looking for CEO … without mentioning that Philip Morris International created and remains the sole funder

A friend recently got this email: The Foundation for a Smokefree World was founded in September 2017. While it advertises itself as independent, it was created with sole funding from the tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI), which announced expected to continue to fund the Foundation at about $80 million a year for the nextContinue reading “Foundation for a Smokefree World looking for CEO … without mentioning that Philip Morris International created and remains the sole funder”

FDA denies marketing authorization for two RJR Vuse menthol ecigs

Following the same logic FDA used to deny marketing authorization of JTI Logic menthol e-cigarettes, FDA has denied authorization for RJR to sell menthol versions of its Vuse Vibe Tank Menthol 3.0% and the Vuse Ciro Cartridge Menthol 1.5% e-cigs. While FDA does not post the Marketing Denial Orders, Center for Tobacco Products Director Brian KingContinue reading “FDA denies marketing authorization for two RJR Vuse menthol ecigs”

Complaint about RJR flouting CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products submitted to AG

I have published four earlier blog posts (1, 2, 3, 4) describing how RJR’s “non-menthol” cigarettes violate California’s law prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. Now my colleague Lauren Lempert has submitted a complaint directly to the California Attorney General. Here is a copy of her submission. How long will it take AG RobContinue reading “Complaint about RJR flouting CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products submitted to AG”

RJR non-menthol cigarettes have other flavors according to RJR

As documented in three earlier blog posts (1, 2, 3) and an article in the New York Times, RJ Reynolds has introduced several “non-menthol” brands of cigarettes in an effort to get around California’s law prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. It is important to keep in mind that the law prohibits the saleContinue reading “RJR non-menthol cigarettes have other flavors according to RJR”

Plan to attend annual “It’s About a Billion Lives Symposium” on Jan 26, 2023

Registration is now open for the annual UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education symposium. The symposium is back to being in person (as well as streamed) on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 8am Pacific Time. I will be participating in a panel on the tobacco documents with a great group of people. AsContinue reading “Plan to attend annual “It’s About a Billion Lives Symposium” on Jan 26, 2023″

RJR tries to slither around CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products with Newport, too

RJ Reynolds, BAT’s US subsidiary, has released its third effort to keep selling flavored cigarettes with its new Newport cigarettes that offer “bold lasting flavor” now that it can’t sell menthol cigarettes. The problem with what Reynolds is doing is that the law prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, not just menthol flavored tobaccoContinue reading “RJR tries to slither around CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products with Newport, too”

AG needs to stop Kool’s latest transparent attempt to flout California’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco

After Big Tobacco was crushed at the ballot box and rebuffed by the Supreme Court, ITG Brands, a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco, is trying to slither around California’s prohibition on the sale of flavored tobacco products.  Like RJ Reynolds’ new Camel “ice” cigarettes, ITG is now promoting “Non-menthol Kool” only in California (screenshot of theirContinue reading “AG needs to stop Kool’s latest transparent attempt to flout California’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco”