#vapebans

[grimmgreenindustries]

E-Cig Debate Should Focus on ‘Issues That Really Matter’FDA’s Zeller acknowledges potential of therapeutic nicotine 

Via: CSPNET.COM

NEW YORK -- As with his presentation at the NATO Show, Mitch Zeller’s appearance at the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA) Conference centered on the concept of a continuum of risk when it comes to nicotine and tobacco products. The director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) went so far as to say the pro-vaping attendees were “preaching to the choir” when they called for a change in rhetoric for the debate over electronic cigarettes.

Attendee Bonnie Herzog, Wells Fargo’s senior tobacco analyst, said that Zeller agreed the societal debate needs to focus on “issues that really matter,” like the role e-cigs could potentially play in harm reduction. The current e-cig/vaping debate has zeroed in on issues like youth usage, flavors and marketing. Though Herzog acknowledged these points are “undoubtedly very important,” she expressed concerns that they are “diverting attention from the bigger-picture issues.”

“Encouragingly, Director Zeller underscored the importance of ‘opening up the dialogue’ across various stakeholders in the nicotine space, suggesting to us that he and the agency remain committed to using science and data to shape regulation while recognizing the nicotine continuum of risk, which is consistent with his previous comments,” she continued in a research note.

Read the full article by clicking below

LINK

[grimmgreenindustries]

Stores get shut down

                         Four specialty electronic cigarette retail shops in Bountiful (Utah) will not receive the renewed business license they need to operate in 2014. The decision by Bountiful city officials based on zoning issues is "inappropriate" because it leaves shop owners without any grace period to make alternative arrangements, said Aaron Frazier, director of Utah Vapers, a trade organization representing certified e-cigarette shops across the state. "We're talking four stores in the Bountiful area. This is no small matter," Frazier said.

The four speciality retail shops effected are Vapor Dreams, 273 W. 500 South, No. 11; Urban Vapor LLC., 310 S. 200 West; Vapor R Us, 74 E. 500 South and VaporLoc, 390 N. 500 West. But Bountiful officials claim the law is the law -- in this particular case, state law. The city informed the businesses they would not be renewed for a new license for 2014 in a Dec. 23 letter drafted by Bountiful City Attorney Russell L. Mahan. "Each of the four shops received copies of the same letter," Frazier said. Mahan could not be reached for comment as city offices are regularly closed Friday. Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson said this particular action has not been discussed with the city council. He said but if such a letter would have been sent out by the city, it would have been in accordance with city ordinance.

Brad Parsons, co-owner of VaporLoc in Bountiful, said he has retained an attorney and is hoping to receive an extension from the city on the Jan. 1 deadline. "We are trying to play nice," Parsons said. "We went through all the regulations. (The city) knew what we did 100 percent," Parsons said. He said now that he has invested $130,000 into his store, the city is saying he must close effective Jan. 1. "They give us five days notice, which is a little ridiculous," he said. "Merry Christmas." Read the full article Here

So the FDA wants online sales to go away, and now state and local governments are shutting down brick and mortar stores. The war is coming.

-Grimm

[grimmgreenindustries]

FDA Discusses Banning Online Sales of E-Cigarettes

VIA: http://online.wsj.com

By 

STEPHEN DRILL

The Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban on online sales of electronic cigarettes, as part of a package of regulations the agency is readying for the increasingly popular devices, people familiar with the matter said.

The FDA, which warned in 2009 that e-cigarettes could pose health risks, has been meeting with e-cigarette makers this week to hear their views on its proposed regulations for the industry. The agency is expected to formally unveil its proposals in October, after several delays.

The "listening sessions" at FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., north of Washington, are part of a series of meetings. At least 20 FDA staffers have attended the gatherings, the people familiar with the matter said, as the agency prepares its proposals for public comment.

As part of that effort, the FDA has discussed an online-sales ban to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of minors and is looking at whether the minimum legal age for buying them should be 18 or 19, the people said. They said the agency is also reviewing television, radio and print advertising standards for the products. Overseeing the project is Mitch Zeller, who became director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products in March.

Mr. Zeller said in an interview Thursday that he was working toward publishing proposed regulations in October. "It is true that more research is needed on the health effects of e-cigarettes. However, we do not need more research on whether e-cigarettes should or should not be included in proposed FDA regulations," he said. He declined to comment on the scope of the regulations.

Read the full article here

Using the "save the children" argument to ban online sales seems a bit ridiculous to me.  As does how  much stress they put on being 18 vs being 19 as the legal age to purchase tobacco and vape products.  How much "growing" does one person do between being 18 and 19 honestly?  Yes obviously the general stance is that vaping is for adults.  I have no problem with that at all.  Will banning online sales help prevent salels to minors?  do 17 year old kids have the means and money to spend for vape gear online? I know when i was 17 I didn't have cash to buy much of anything, rarely even gas for my car.  

-Grimm 

[grimmgreenindustries]

UPDATE (8/7/2013): CASAA and NYC vapers had previously been led to believe that the sponsors of these proposed ordinances were likely to put forward amendments exempting e-cigarettes from NYC's new definition of "tobacco product."   CASAA has just learned that the Health Committee completely disregarded the concerns of vapers.  An updated ordinance has leaked to the press and no substantive changes have been made.  Indeed, the ordinance is actually worse than it was before, as the sponsors added language that absurdly claims that e-cigarettes are designed to DETER smokers from quitting.  This move comes after a May 2, 2013 meeting of the NYC Committee on Health, during which a representative from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stated that the Department had no intention of trying to regulate e-cigarettes.    The next meeting of the Health Committee is scheduled for August 22, 2013, but it is unknown at this time whether they'll be voting on the ordinances. 

Immediate action is needed to stop these ordinances from becoming law and harming public health. Please see the link above on how to help.