New Era for Tobacco Harm Reduction in the US

We wish to acknowledge Bill Godshall - Executive Director - Smokefree Pennsylvania for his tireless efforts at educating and fighting for reduced risk alternatives to smoking tobacco.  Thank you for everything you are doing and keeping us informed...

The FDA's announcement http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm252360.htm conceding to Judge Richard Leon's ruling in NJOY v FDA https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2009cv0771-54 means that e-cigarettes, e-liquid, nicotine gums, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, skin creams, beverages and at least several dissolvables now join cigars and pipe tobacco as tobacco products that are currently unregulated by the FDA (as long as the manufacturer or importer make no therapeutic claim).

 

The FDA stated it "intends to propose a regulation" to extend the many different Chapter IX provisions of the FSPTCA

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ031.111.pdf to ALL currently unregulated tobacco products.  But the regulatory promulgation process could take several years, and the Secretary of HHS must determine that any new regulation "would be appropriate for the protection of the public health." 

 

Although scientific evidence has found that cigars and pipe tobacco can pose health risks, there is no evidence that smokefree e-cigarettes, e-liquid, gums, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, skin creams, beverages or dissolvables have harmed users.  In contrast, there is mounting evidence that these smokefree alternatives have helped many smokers reduce health risks by reducing cigarette consumption and/or quitting smoking.

 

The marketing and public health ramifications of Monday's announcement by the FDA are likely to include:

- e-cigarette sales will continue skyrocketing and many more smokers will switch,

- other new nicotine products (gums, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, skin creams, beverages, etc.) will be marketed to smokers as less hazardous smokefree tobacco alternatives,

- cigarette consumption will decline more rapidly and tobacco companies will market more smokefree alternatives, 

- sales of NRT products for smoking cessation will decline significantly due to price competition from nearly identical products marketed as tobacco,

- states will enact new laws banning the sale of all tobacco products to minors (by redefining tobacco product as "any product derived from tobacco and intended for human consumption"), and

- tobacco harm reduction products and policies will be endorsed by more public health officials, organizations and advocates. 

 

Bill Godshall

Just Saying Hello

It has been a few days since our last blog, so we wanted to say Hello.  Here it is April, almost tax day and spring cleaning is going on all around us.  Its time to get rid of some of the things that have cluttered our houses and garages over the past year.  One thing I got rid of were my ash trays and I had quite a collection.  Since I have quit smoking tobacco, as have all my friends, they are just more clutter.

Cleaning out is a good feeling, shedding the items that bog us down.  I had to keep a lighter though, just for birthday candles and in case of a power failure and I would need to light some candles.  I got rid of an old cigarette case as well, I liked it when I smoked, but I am so happy that I don't use it anymore either.

Now that spring is here, it is nice enough to go out for walks and get a little more exercise in the evenings with the sun still shining until 8pm.  I am feeling really good and a brisk walk just adds to the fact that I am so much better off without the smokes.

E-cigarettes from www.mystmasters.com has changed my life in so many wonderful ways.  I just hope all our customers are feeling the same way.  Please keep sending in the testimonials, we have received a couple of real heart-warming stories we will be posting on the website.  Many lives have been changed, but this is only the beginning.

Imagine if all smokers switched to an alternative to tobacco burning, we could eliminate smoking related morbidity and mortality in just a few short years.  It is only with your help spreading the word that this could become possible.  Be sure to stay informed in your area of local proposed regulations that would ban alternatives to tobacco for no scientific reasons; only for monetary gain by large pharmaceutical companies, big tobacco and for the representative's own personal political agenda (somebody paid for them to be elected).

Remember, "you got to fight...for the right...to VAPE" !!!

April Showers Rain Down Savings

Now is a great time to get your new kit from MystMasters.  There are fantastic savings on several models throughout the month, be sure to check out the website www.mystmasters.com

 The New Mach Series is outstanding and at the best value yet.  If you are a heavy vaper, this one will keep up with your demands.