On April 25, 2023, the California Attorney General’s office wrote RJ Reynolds and ITG brands notifying them that several of their brands currently being sold in California are flavored and violate the California prohibition on the sale of flavored tobacco products: This is because the California law established a rebuttable presumption that a tobacco productContinue reading “California AG determines that “non-menthol” cigs are flavored and so illegal to sell in California”
Category Archives: cigarette marketing
“Non-menthol” is a characterizing flavor, so illegal to sell in California
California law (SB793, upheld against an RJ Reynolds’ referendum) prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. In response, RJ Reynolds and ITG Brands introduced “non-menthol” cigarettes to try and evade the law. While most discussion has concentrated on the fact that these products are marketed just like menthol brands (which, by itself, is enough toContinue reading ““Non-menthol” is a characterizing flavor, so illegal to sell in California”
Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue “sweet with a vanilla undertone”
An online review of Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue (posted Feb 17, 2023) describes it as “sweet with a vanilla undertone” adds to the evidence that RJ Reynolds’ “non-menthol” cigarettes introduced in California violate the state’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. As discussed in detail before, here is what the California lawContinue reading “Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue “sweet with a vanilla undertone””
YouTube videos from smokers on RJR “non-menthol” cigarettes say they are still flavored: Direct evidence they violate California law
Customer reviews posted to YouTube provide evidence that RJ Reynolds’ new “non-menthol” cigarettes are still flavored and violate California’s (and local) bans on the sale of flavored tobacco products. The most extensive example is a detailed product review: In a second video, at around :45, the woman says the Newport non-menthols “still have a hintContinue reading “YouTube videos from smokers on RJR “non-menthol” cigarettes say they are still flavored: Direct evidence they violate California law”
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 Reynolds’ latest transparent attempt to flout California’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco
After getting crushed at the ballot box and rebuffed by the Supreme Court, RJ Renolds is still trying to slither around California’s prohibition on the sale of flavored tobacco products. In addition to introducing Camel “ice” cigarettes, it is now promoting “Non-menthol Kool” only in California (screenshot of their website above). The packaging and promotionContinue reading “AG needs to stop Reynolds’ latest transparent attempt to flout California’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco”
California ban on sale of flavored tobacco products goes into effect after Supreme Court rejects RJR attempt to block it
As expected (at least by me) the Supreme Court refused to consider RJR and other tobacco companies’ argument that California’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products was illegal. The law will take effect December 21, 2022. The actual order is above. The California Department of Public Health has done a great job ofContinue reading “California ban on sale of flavored tobacco products goes into effect after Supreme Court rejects RJR attempt to block it”
Big cigarette companies have to display “corrective statements” at point-of sale 16 years after a federal court ordered them to do it
On August 17, 2006, federal Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that tobacco companies violated racketeering laws, ruling, “As set forth in these Final Proposed Findings of Fact, substantial evidence establishes that Defendants have engaged in and executed – and continue to engage in and execute (emphasis added) – a massive 50-year scheme to defraud the public,Continue reading “Big cigarette companies have to display “corrective statements” at point-of sale 16 years after a federal court ordered them to do it”
Texas Trump judge grasps at straws to reject graphic warning labels on cigarette packs; now the appeals can start
After sitting on the case for years, federal Judge J. Campbell Barker, an active member of the right-wing Federalist Society, finally issued his opinion vacating (rescinding) the FDA’s graphic warning labels on cigarette packs that Congress mandated in 2009 when it passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. His decision rejecting the warningContinue reading “Texas Trump judge grasps at straws to reject graphic warning labels on cigarette packs; now the appeals can start”
After sitting on cigarette warning labels, judge announces he will rule on their legality (in a month)
Perhaps in response to the Department of Justice threatening to go over his head to the Count of Appeals, Texas Trump Judge J. Campbell Barker who has been sitting on the FDA’s Congressionally-mandated cigarette pack graphic warnings for years has announced the he expects to rule on the industry’s challenge to the warning labels byContinue reading “After sitting on cigarette warning labels, judge announces he will rule on their legality (in a month)”