AEI Conference on CSPAN – Part 1

Thursday, June 2, 2016

CSPAN2

Regulation of E-Cigs

American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

Moderator: Alan Viard, AEI Resident Scholar leading 5 panelists

SAUL SHIFFMAN, Psychology Professor from the University of Pittsburgh

• 500 million people will die from cigarettes this year.
• Smokers who do not attempt to quit will face a 50-50 chance of dying prematurely.
• “It’s not the nicotine that’s the problem, it’s the dirty delivery vehicle of smoking.”
• Public misinformed on supposed danger of e-cigs by media, scientists, and CDC
• Kids using e-cigs; measured by whether had a single puff verus regular use; regular use is VERY low
• Nearly 75% of kids that have ever tried e-cigs were previously smokers!
• 2 studies that show in states that restricted e-cig sales to minors, smoking went up among teens
• With rise of e-cigs, decline in teen smoking – this negates gateway effect because one does not in fact encourage the other
• From federal data, quit attempts among adults is much higher in last year
• Teen non-smokers not interested in e-cigs because of flavors; adults, on the other hand, did find e-cigs more appealing because of flavors
• Studies conclude e-cigs much safer than smoking and can save lives

DR. SALLY SATEL, AEI Resident Scholar and Staff Psychiatrist for Partners in Drug Abuse Rehabilitation & Counseling

• Smoking for teens AND adults are at lowest rate ever in history!
• FDA utilizing “over-cautious approach in my opinion for a harm reduction product”
• Two tobacco companies, Altria and Philip Reynolds both make e-cig products

Part 2 with additional panelists coming soon. Watch the entire conference here.

No Response from FDA to Senate Committee

In a previous post, I reported on Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and his letter to the FDA, asking several questions and demanding accountability from FDA Commissioner Califf. The letter included a deadline of May 31, 2016 for Califf’s response.

Unfortunately, that deadline came and went without an acknowlegement or response from the FDA.

 

Pennsylvania Call to Action!

CASAA has issued a Call to Action for all vapers!

Pennsylvania is once again pursuing a 40% wholesale tax on all vapor products. Legislators will be meeting in Harrisburg on Monday, June 6th to resume talks regarding state budgetary issues, which will include this proposed tax.

Show your support now!!!

Indiana Law Upheld in Court

Yesterday a judge ruled to uphold Indiana law SB539 that bans all out-of-state e-liquid vendors from shipping into Indiana. The only exception are the six companies that were able to obtain special permits to do business within the state. As of July 1, 2016, Indiana residents will be confined to either in-state companies or DIY liquids. Indiana residents aren’t even allowed to re-enter the state with other liquids; they will be considered “contraband” and subject to a ticket and/or fine. Any e-liquid companies who ship into the state will face criminal charges for “unlawful distribution without a permit.”

Residents continue to purse legal action, but as of right now, all shelves must be cleared by 11:59pm June 30, 2016. It is estimated that 200 shops and 2500 people will not hold the required permit and will essentially lose their jobs. Absolutely ridiculous.

Hoosier Vapers went live yesterday to give the news.  They had received a 3pm call from their attorneys that the judge had denied their request for a preliminary injunction, because they had failed to adequately prove that they “were likely to win the case.” That ruling on the injunction rendered other arguments useless, because the injunction is required to move forward with other steps. “It was a long shot” getting the injunction as Indiana judges rarely rule on them, so now they will continue to explore various appeals.

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