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Category: Around the Industry

  • Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Each year since 2012, October 28 has been celebrated as World Tobacco Growers’ Day (WTGD), the date when Europeans reportedly first observed tobacco as Christopher Columbus arrived at the island that is now the Dominican Republic. Founded by the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA), the day is meant “to celebrate the legitimacy and dignity of the work carried out by millions of tobacco growers around the world.”

    “Since its establishment, World Tobacco Growers’ Day has been celebrated across many countries, honoring the dedication and contribution of farming communities,” the ITGA says. “In several nations, the day has even been formally institutionalized, becoming a proud annual tradition that recognizes the economic, cultural, and social importance of tobacco growers. A global day to honor those who cultivate the land and preserve a living heritage.

    “WTGD shines a light on the cultural, historical, and socio-economic legacy of tobacco growing — a livelihood that has shaped generations and sustained rural communities for centuries. Tobacco growers work in a legal and regulated market, and this day is about giving dignity and recognition to their honest labor and enduring contribution to the global agricultural landscape.”

  • ‘Science Must Lead Policy,’ Say South African Harm-Reduction Experts

    ‘Science Must Lead Policy,’ Say South African Harm-Reduction Experts

    Health and policy leaders at the Progressive Business Forum (PBF) Colloquium on Wellness and Healthy Lifestyles in South Africa called for a science-driven approach to public health, urging the government to prioritize harm reduction over ideology. Former Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa said South Africa must extend harm reduction principles—long used in HIV prevention and road safety—to emerging health risks such as tobacco and substance use. “Harm reduction is not permissiveness, it’s progress,” she said, noting that public health must help people make safer choices rather than impose moral judgments.

    Dr Percy Selepe, Acting COO of the Gauteng Department of Health, said “science must lead policy.” He and other speakers argued that South Africa’s punitive, abstinence-based approach has failed to curb smoking and substance use. Harm reduction advocates, including Professor Monique Marks, criticized the lack of government funding for evidence-based interventions, noting that all existing programs are run by non-profits. Marks stressed that switching from combustible cigarettes to regulated smoke-free products could dramatically reduce health risks and ease the burden on the healthcare system.

    Professors Obedy Mwantembe and Tivani Mashamba-Thompson called for African-led research into nicotine science and integrated harm reduction services addressing HIV and Hepatitis C. They emphasized that compassion and science must work hand in hand to reduce stigma and improve outcomes. If Gauteng’s evidence-first stance becomes national policy, speakers said, South Africa could modernize its public health strategy — replacing bans and punishment with regulation, education, and empathy. “Better health contributes to positive growth,” Ramokgopa said. “Collaboration between science, policy, and society is not optional — it’s essential.”

  • Nigeria Health Advocates Push for 50% Tobacco Tax

    Nigeria Health Advocates Push for 50% Tobacco Tax

    Health stakeholders and tobacco control advocates at the Gatefield Health Summit 2025 urged the Nigerian government to raise tobacco taxes to 50% of the retail price, citing the measure as a key tool to reduce smoking, prevent related illnesses, and protect public health. Experts highlighted that Nigeria’s current tax level of about 25% falls well below the World Health Organization’s recommended 75% of retail price.

    Michael Olaniyan, Country Representative for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, claimed that higher taxes are effective in deterring youth smoking, while Chibuike Nwokorem of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance criticized tobacco companies for exploiting weak enforcement mechanisms and influencing policy decisions through industry associations.

  • Cresco Labs Moves to Dismiss Labeling Class Action

    Cresco Labs Moves to Dismiss Labeling Class Action

    Cresco Labs, the Chicago-based cannabis company, asked a federal judge in Illinois to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company and its subsidiaries of mislabeling cannabis products. The lawsuit alleges that Cresco’s products were inaccurately labeled, potentially misleading consumers about potency and content.

    In its motion, Cresco contends that the claims lack sufficient legal basis and argues that the company has complied with applicable state and federal regulations. The company is seeking to have the case dismissed before it proceeds to discovery or trial.

    No court date has been set yet for a ruling on the motion, and the case remains under review. The outcome could have broader implications for labeling standards and consumer protection in the rapidly growing cannabis industry.

  • Juul Aims for Comeback with Adult-Focused Vape Device

    Juul Aims for Comeback with Adult-Focused Vape Device

    Juul Labs is attempting a comeback, refocusing on its original mission of helping adult smokers transition away from cigarettes. Investor James Sagan of Architect Capital, who invested in Juul in 2023, told NYNext, “Everybody kind of thought Juul was dead and evil. But the early investors and founders have poured a bunch of capital back into the company to save it.”

    Central to the revival is Juul2, a new vaping device. Users who age-verify as 21+ can access an optional smartphone app. Juul founders James Monsees and Adam Bowen initially developed the technology at Stanford to provide an alternative to cigarettes. The company has undergone a reset to steer the company back toward harm reduction while preventing underage use.

    The device is currently awaiting regulatory approval in the U.S.; it’s already for sale, in the UK.

    “We’re all of the belief that Juul is a mission-driven company tackling the most important public health problem,” Sagan said. “That truth will reveal itself at some point in time.”

  • Former CTP Director Says Tobacco Control Burden Shifts to States

    Former CTP Director Says Tobacco Control Burden Shifts to States

    Former director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products Dr. Brian King, said the Trump administration’s reductions in federal funding, including millions of dollars previously allocated to tobacco control and prevention programs, have shifted the responsibility for such efforts to state and local governments. King, who is now the executive vice president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, highlighted the implications during a keynote address at the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i annual meeting, urging local leaders to document tobacco’s impacts and advocate for continued public health protections.

    King pointed to cuts affecting major agencies, including the CDC, NIH, and FDA, which traditionally provide funds for state-level tobacco control initiatives. Hawai‘i Public Radio said the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health was eliminated, resulting in a loss of $70 million annually for tobacco control programs and $15.1 million for state quitlines. While the full impact of these federal cuts has yet to be felt, King warned that once programs lose funding entirely, many initiatives may face staffing reductions or elimination.

  • Vape, Nicotine, Tobacco Law Symposium Dates Announced

    Vape, Nicotine, Tobacco Law Symposium Dates Announced

    Keller and Heckman announced that it will be hosting its 10th Annual E-Vapor, Nicotine, and Tobacco Law Symposium, taking place on May 4 – 5, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV, at the Paris Las Vegas hotel. This two-day seminar is designed to provide in-depth knowledge on legal, regulatory, and scientific issues essential for tobacco, nicotine, and CBD/hemp product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers. 

    Registration for the symposium will begin in December. For questions related to the program, contact Emma Kyle at kyle@khlaw.com.

  • HQD Launches GO Disposable E-Cigarette in the U.S.

    HQD Launches GO Disposable E-Cigarette in the U.S.

    HQD introduced its new disposable e-cigarette, the HQD GO, across its official website and multiple U.S. retail channels. The device is “rated for up to 35,000 puffs, features Soft, Regular, and Boost power settings, and offers adjustable airflow.” The U.S. version contains 30 mg/ml (3%) nicotine and is priced at approximately $29.99. The HQD GO is available in six colors and 14 flavors, including fruit, chocolate, tobacco, and cooling varieties.

    Retailers such as ohmcityvapes list the HQD GO with 18 ml of e-liquid, which equates to roughly 1,944 puffs per ml, “making it higher than comparable devices like the VOZOL NEON PLUG MAX and SKE 30K Pro Max.”

  • NY AG Moves to Shut Down Repeat Vape Lawbreakers

    NY AG Moves to Shut Down Repeat Vape Lawbreakers

    New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a nearly 50-page petition in Otsego County State Supreme Court seeking to permanently close two smoke shops and bar their owners from the vape industry. The complaint alleges that Eysa Sharhan and Ahmed Mozeb repeatedly sold banned flavored vape products, sold to minors, and operated without proper state licenses.

    The petition targets Pop-In Smoke & Vape LLC, Pufftopia LLC, and Royalty Tobacco LLC, noting that the owners repeatedly changed business names and locations after license revocations to continue illegal operations. The state is seeking to seize illicit profits and collect nearly $200,000 in unpaid fines, arguing that the defendants “continue to operate and sell flavored vapor products, endangering the health and safety of New Yorkers.” This action follows a broader February lawsuit accusing major vape distributors of contributing to the youth vaping epidemic.

  • UK Set to Miss 2030 Smoke-Free Target, New Analysis Finds

    UK Set to Miss 2030 Smoke-Free Target, New Analysis Finds

    A new analysis by Haypp, in collaboration with Swedish economist David Sundén, shows that the UK is unlikely to achieve its goal of being smoke-free by 2030 if current trends continue. Based on smoking rate declines across the UK and EU, England is projected to reach smoke-free status in 2032, Wales in 2033, Scotland in 2034, and Northern Ireland not until 2037. The study defines smoke-free as having less than 5% of the population smoking daily, in line with the World Health Organization criteria.

    The report highlights Sweden as a global leader, set to become smoke-free on October 25, 2025, driven by high cigarette taxes and widespread access to alternatives like snus and nicotine pouches. In comparison, the UK’s overall daily smoking rate remains at 11.9%, with rates among young adults (18–24) at 9.8%. Sweden’s young-adult smoking rate is 2.3%.

    Sundén notes that while alternatives such as vapes have helped reduce smoking, the rate of decline is slowing and some regions have even seen slight increases over the past year.

    The analysis also points to the potential public health impact if the UK adopted Sweden’s harm reduction strategies. Markus Lindblad, Haypp’s Director of External Affairs, emphasized that the UK has an opportunity to follow Sweden’s approach, using alternative nicotine products to accelerate the transition away from combustible tobacco as Parliament considers the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.