NEWS
THE $ 12BN PUBLIC HEALTH PRIZE
Canada could save over $ 12 billion annually , if it adopted vaping as a harm reduction tool , claim experts . They revealed that endorsing the lifesaving technology could greatly cut healthcare costs by reducing tobacco-related death and illness . Darryl Tempest of the Canadian Vaping Association said : “ Vaping presents an opportunity to reduce smoking rates and extend the life expectancy of smokers .” He warned that flavour bans drive people back to cigarettes , stressing that public health gains should be ‘ the focus of public health policies ’.
BARGING IN
Consumer advocacy group We Vape took a ‘ battle barge ’ past Parliament to ensure MPs know how important it is to support vaping to help smokers quit .
Taking place ahead of the recent international COP9 tobacco control conference , it encouraged UK politicians to defend vaping amid attacks from the World Health Organization and others . We Vape director Mark Oates said it was important to get the # BackVapingSaveLives message across for all of London - and Parliament - to see .
A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO HARM REDUCTION
Harm reduction advocates praised the Stroke Association after it endorsed vaping as a quitting tool . The leading stroke charity said it agrees with the view that smokers should ‘ strongly consider ’ the use of e-cigarettes to kick the habit . Responding to the news , a JAC Vapour spokesperson said : “ Another amazing charity that endorses the use of vaping as a safer alternative to smoking … thank you for a common-sense approach to harm reduction .”
WAKE UP AND LISTEN
Canada ’ s justifications to introduce a federal vape flavour ban have been strongly criticised by international advocates . The World Vapers ’ Alliance says Health Canada ’ s reasons for the ban are ‘ full of biased arguments against vaping ’, ‘ perpetuate debunked myths ’ and ‘ miss crucial facts ’. WVA director Michael Landl said : “ When will policymakers wake up to the benefits of vaping ?” He said the ban would drive up smoking rates and fuel an unregulated black market for illegal e-cigarettes .
MEXICAN VAPE BAN RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Mexico ’ s ban on e-cigarettes has been declared unconstitutional by the country ’ s highest judicial body . Under the country ’ s tobacco laws ‘ marketing , selling , distributing , promoting or producing ’ e-cigarettes were prohibited . The Supreme Court of Justice ruled that the ‘ absolute and categorical ban ’ on vaping products was unconstitutional because it infringed on commercial freedom . However , the court did not rule in favour of allowing e-cigarette marketing , saying it was only concerned with the ‘ absolute ban .’
DON ’ T BAN … REGULATE
Hong Kong is being urged to regulate – not ban – vaping , after media reports suggest it ’ s considering a blanket ban on reduced risk products . Medical and scientific experts wrote to HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam , saying the evidence showed that embracing vaping would save lives . Harm reduction advocate Nancy Loucas said : “ If Hong Kong is to successfully reduce its smoking rates , it must give smokers legal access to safer alternatives . We hope they follow the evidence , because there ’ s plenty of it .”
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