TAXED TO DEATH ?
The Canadian government is being accused of putting tobacco tax revenues ahead of saving smokers ’ lives . Geoff Russ , writing in The National Post , said vaping was the ‘ biggest threat ’ to tobacco tax revenues . He wrote : “ Switching from cigarettes to vapes got millions away from inhaling deadly carcinogens . So why are Canadian governments so keen on punishing vapers and the vaping industry with new taxes and regulations ? “ Federal and provincial governments love the revenue tobacco brings them and will fight to protect it — even if it means high rates of smoking and more deaths .”
BILLY ’ S NIGHTMARE CONTINUES
Brit Billy Hood , jailed in Dubai after police found CBD vape liquid in his car , has had his prison sentence cut from 25 years to 10 . The 25-year-old Londoner , who said the e-liquid belonged to a friend , is a former semi-professional footballer who moved to Dubai to coach young soccer players . His anguished mother Breda Guckion said : “ Billy has done nothing wrong . He ’ s been told the charges against him have been dropped yet he is still there for another ten years ... it ’ s heart-breaking .”
WHEN VAPING GETS TOO POPULAR … BAN FLAVOURS
Lithuania will ban flavoured e-liquids from July … apparently because vaping is becoming too popular in the country . Its MPs voted to ban all flavours , except tobacco , to reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes . Critics say it makes no sense to discourage vaping , especially as around 28 percent of Lithuanians smoke – five percent higher than the EU average . It is also illegal to sell e-liquids containing additives , vitamins , caffeine or other stimulating compounds under current laws .
THIS SHOULD BE EASY
US regulators are being told that allowing smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives should be an ‘ easy decision ’ to make . A briefing paper from lobbyists , ‘ Citizens Against Government Waste ’, said current US government policy made no sense . It said : “ The success of THR products in England , Sweden , and other countries should be followed to help reduce the harm caused by smoking cigarettes . Yet Congress and federal bureaucrats have instituted regressive taxes , strict regulations and outright bans on harm reduction products .”
QUIT-E THE STRUGGLE
Smoking doesn ’ t just impact physical health but can ‘ wreak havoc on your self-esteem and mental wellbeing ’ too , say vape advocates . Longtime smoker turned harm reduction activist Janine Timmons recently tweeted about the toll that failed quitting attempts can have on your self-worth . She said : “ With every failed attempt I felt worse and resigned myself to an abbreviated life … but quitting in two weeks by switching to vaping restored my self-pride .” Hundreds flocked to the post , echoing the message that kicking the habit through vaping can liberate smokers and praising Janine for shedding light on the often-overlooked struggle .
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