CONFLICT OF INTEREST
VTA VINDICATED
A judge has ordered New York State to reimburse the Vapor Technology Association ’ s ( VTA ) attorney fees connected to a lawsuit over the attempt to impose an emergency ban on flavored e-cigarettes . Acting state Supreme Court Justice Catherine Cholakis sided with the VTA , who argued that state officials overreached their authority and should therefore cover the legal costs associated with fighting the ban . The trade body is seeking $ 381,000 in attorney fees and costs from the state . An evidentiary hearing will decide if the amount is appropriate .
GATEWAY OUT , NOT IN
BACK VAPING FOR CANCER FIGHT
The World Vaper ’ s Alliance ( WVA ) is calling for members of the EU parliament ( MEPs ) to back vaping as part of Europe ’ s Beating Cancer Plan . In October , the Special Committee on Beating Cancer ( BECA ) identified that ‘ tobacco use , in particular cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for cancer death in Europe .’ WVA director , Michael Landl said that the BECA committee and European Parliament should be ‘ brave enough to endorse new approaches ’ like vaping for harm reduction .
Vape regulations should be based on science and not ideology , a Philippines medical expert has said . Quit For Good president Dr . Lorenzo Mata Jr . made the comments after it was revealed that the country ’ s FDA had received funding from US-based anti-tobacco groups , The Union and Bloomberg Initiative . Mata said that his group had participated in the public consultation but were ‘ treated to a farcical consultation , a mere tick-thebox exercise for the sake of simply holding one .’ The expert argued that nicotine products should be regulated according to risk and not all treated like deadly , combustible tobacco .
THE WRONG MESSAGE
Baltimore city leaders are proposing a tax of 30 percent on e-cigarettes . City Council President , Brandon Scott , hopes the tax will help with the fiscal deficit caused by COVID-19 . It is thought the tax could generate millions for the city . However , critics of the proposal argue it will have a reverse effect . Alex Clark , CEO of The Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Association , said : “ Taxing vapor products like combustible cigarettes for example is a move in the wrong direction . “ Increasing the cost of these products is likely to discourage people from switching to a smoke free alternative .”
YOU DON ’ T KNOW NICOTINE
‘ A Billion Lives ’ director Aaron Biebert is to release his new documentary film in December . In ‘ You Don ’ t Know Nicotine ’ , Biebert set out to ‘ learn more about Earth ’ s most hated stimulant .’ Biebert said : “ It seems like nicotine is one of those topics that everyone has an opinion on . “ I don ’ t think people trust anyone who is talking about it unless it ’ s a doctor but doctors don ’ t have a lot of time to research . People are highly skeptical around the topic as a result .”
More than 5.6 million US adults reported vaping in 2019 , according to data published in JAMA Network Open . The researchers found that 39 percent of vapers were current smokers and just under 38 percent were former smokers . Most of the vapers were using e-cigarettes to quit or stay free of tobacco . Margaret Mayer , PhD of the National Cancer Institute at the NIS said : “[ The majority ] reported using e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking , but longitudinal studies and trials are needed in order to determine whether vaping actually helps smokers quit cigarettes .”
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