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Category: Around the Industry

  • Durbin, No. 2 Senate Democrat and Anti-Tobacco Crusader, to Retire

    Durbin, No. 2 Senate Democrat and Anti-Tobacco Crusader, to Retire

    Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat for two decades and a leading liberal voice on Capitol Hill, announced today (April 23) that he would not seek re-election next year, closing out a 44-year congressional career focused on immigration, the federal justice system, and anti-smoking initiatives. According to the New York Times, the decision was widely expected and will immediately touch off a crowded competition for a rare Senate vacancy in his solidly blue state.

    Durbin entered Congress in 1983, and as a junior member of that chamber, led the drive to ban smoking on airplanes, helping to usher in the smoke-free movement with legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

    “That has to be the most significant thing I’ve done in terms of changing America,” Durbin said. “I was trying to get away from a health hazard, and I ended up reaching a tipping point on tobacco in America. I didn’t see that coming.”

    After winning a Senate seat in 1996, Durbin famously kept the tobacco and nicotine industry in his crosshairs. Motivated by the death of his father due to smoking, Durbin was a leading advocate for the Tobacco Control Act that gave the FDA authority over tobacco products and championed the federal lawsuit that resulted in a historic verdict that painted the major tobacco companies as racketeers who lied to the public for decades. In recent years, he turned his attention to e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.

    In 2022, the American Vapor Manufacturers Association (AVM) requested that the Senate Ethics Committee investigate Durbin for allegedly violating Senate rules by attempting to improperly influence the FDA’s scientific decisions about vaping products. The organization alleged Durbin pressured the FDA to ban all vaping products despite the agency’s premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) review process.

    At the time, Tobacco Reporter wrote, “Citing Durbin’s track record (urging the FDA to ban vapor products via letters, Senate floor speeches, press releases and private meetings) the AVM says it believes Durbin attempted ‘to interfere with and influence the outcome of an ongoing executive branch agency review process in violation of Senate Ethics rules.’”

    The AVM did not hold back with Durbin’s retirement news, saying today on X, “Durbin exits, leaving a trail of ash and arrogance. His intransigent, science-denying vendetta against vaping doomed countless smokers to misery. May his name be etched in infamy: the public health saboteur who’d rather outlaw hope than face facts.”

    Several Illinois Democrats have indicated an interest in running if the seat opened up and have been readying for a potential candidacy. It is likely to be one of several highly competitive primaries in both parties over the next 18 months, as Democrats embark on an uphill slog to reclaim the Senate majority and Republicans grasp to hold on to it.

  • Greece Considering Flavor Ban

    Greece Considering Flavor Ban

    Euractiv is reporting that Greece is preparing a bill to ban all flavored alternative tobacco products, sparing only natural tobacco and mint. Athens has generally opposed both stricter rules for alternative tobacco products and calls to treat them like traditional cigarettes, but according to Euractiv the political case for tougher action is growing. The ban is part of a bill aiming to make it stricter for minors to access alcohol and tobacco products, following incidents of teenagers fainting in a nightclub after consuming excessive alcohol.

    The bill is in “final stages of internal consultation,” a source said, though it’s still unclear whether the flavor ban will survive in the final text. Legally, a total ban would need to be approved by the European Commission and could take up to six months.

    Analysts in Athens say that the bill is a step in the right direction, largely due to its broader crackdown on underage access to alcohol and tobacco products, however, some government officials outside the health ministry have questioned why the flavor ban is being included in a bill ostensibly focused on protecting minors.

    “A total ban doesn’t make sense as it also punishes adult consumers,” an industry source said. They explained that in other countries, such as the UK, flavored products remain on the market and are promoted as tools to help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

    Meanwhile, the association of traders of vaping products warned in a letter to the government, seen by Euractiv, that a total ban would result in 400,000 vape users switching to the “uncontrollable” black market.

  • Cannatrol Opens Denver Office

    Cannatrol Opens Denver Office

    Cannatrol, a Vermont-based company that supports commercial cannabis cultivation by streamlining and controlling the drying, curing, and post-harvest processes, announced the opening of its new Colorado hub in the Denver Tech Center. This office will serve as a strategic base for the company’s western operations and upcoming distribution hub for its postharvest systems, sales of which have demonstrated strong, steady growth since inception in 2021.

    The company also announced the hirings of Michael Lucchino as executive vice president of sales and Kameron Simpson as product manager.

  • Inventor Submits “Mini Cigarette” Design

    Inventor Submits “Mini Cigarette” Design

    An inventor from Lake Grove, N.Y., submitted a modified cigarette design to InventHelp’s Long Island sales office. The creation, which is currently available for licensing or sale, features a compact design that is easy to store and transport.

    “I wanted to create a modified cigarette that would be better suited for quick smoke breaks,” the inventor said. “So, I invented the Mini Cigarette. My design could also serve to help potentially suppress cigarette consumption.”

  • VOOPOO Launches Marketing Campaign Around New Vape Technology

    VOOPOO Launches Marketing Campaign Around New Vape Technology

    VOOPOO launched its Test The Limits campaign around its iCOSM CODE 2.0 technology. This technology is featured in its ARGUS Top Fill Cartridge V2, which the company says “seamlessly integrates Liquid-Seal Shield, Mega-Core, and Golden Cotton, offering a redefined vaping experience.”

    VOOPOO claims these elements introduce three pioneering innovations to the industry that translate to 30 days of cleanliness, consistent flow and steady smoothness, and 100 mL endurance without compromising flavor or performance.

    The campaign runs until September 30, and encourages participants to share experiences with the device on social media, where people can win daily prizes, monthly challenges, and ultimately grand prizes that include a Unitree Go2, iPhone 17 PRO, and a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card.

  • Taiwan: 25% of Cigarettes Become Litter

    Taiwan: 25% of Cigarettes Become Litter

    About 25% of the cigarettes sold in Taiwan are improperly discarded, according to Environmental Management Administration Director-General Yen Hsu-ming, resulting in about 9 billion butts on the streets that could fall into gutters and flow into the ocean.

    The government is looking to combat the environmental issue in numerous ways, including education, fining litterers, monitoring popular smoking points such as convenience stores, distributing 1,800 cigarette snuffers across the city, and launching a clean-up event named “Team Planet,” where 50,000 volunteers picked up litter from the streets.  

    Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming attended the event in Taipei’s Ximending shopping area, saying that maintaining clean streets, keeping cigarette butts of the ground, and preventing dengue fever are the three goals for this year to echo Earth Day.

  • Federal Judge Allows Zyn Lawsuit to Progress

    Federal Judge Allows Zyn Lawsuit to Progress

    A federal judge in Florida allowed key claims to move forward in two consumer class action lawsuits against Philip Morris and its subsidiary, Swedish Match, over allegations that their Zyn nicotine pouches cause ongoing health issues and are deceptively marketed, especially to young people.

    In March, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas partially granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, tossing a single claim of fraudulent concealment for lacking sufficient detail and a clear connection between the alleged misrepresentation and the plaintiffs’ injuries. However, the claims were reportedly dismissed without prejudice, giving the plaintiffs an opportunity to amend their complaints. The court upheld the bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims, including those for design defects, failure to warn, and negligence. The judge also rejected Philip Morris’ efforts to dismiss the lawsuits for lack of jurisdiction, finding that the companies’ business activities in Florida, including marketing and selling Zyn, provided sufficient basis for the federal court to hear the case.

    Plaintiffs in the Zyn lawsuits allege Philip Morris and Swedish Match falsely maintain Zyn is a smokeless nicotine replacement therapy from cigarettes or e-cigarettes, despite the nicotine concentration levels in Zyn exceeding the levels found in nicotine replacement therapies. Philip Morris said it is reviewing the ruling and intends to “vigorously defend” itself against the remaining claims.

  • German Study Finds Smokers Unmotivated to Quit

    German Study Finds Smokers Unmotivated to Quit

    A German Study on Tobacco Use (DEBRA) reported that around 30% of the population smoked cigarettes in 2024. The study focused on the habits and thoughts of nearly 1,200 adults who smoked daily and found that 51.2% of people who smoked were not motivated to stop smoking, 29.1% reported an intention to quit in the following year, and the remainder had some desire to quit but had not decided when to try.

    Lack of motivation was highest among people who 65 and older (64.4%) and lowest among those aged 19 to 34 years (38.9%). People with lower socioeconomic status who smoked had less motivation to quit than those with a higher socioeconomic status. In the sample of people who smoke, the barriers to quitting smoking included enjoyment of smoking (50.1%), difficulty in changing habits (41.4%), and lack of discipline (31.2%), with key differences among age groups. Only 27.3% of people who smoke perceived E-cigs/HTPs to have lower health risks relative to cigarettes, versus 84.7% of smoke-free product (SFP) users.

    “The best way to reduce the health risks of smoking is to quit smoking altogether. However, focusing solely on cessation does not acknowledge the real challenges that people who smoke (barriers to quitting) face when trying to quit,” the study concluded. “The survey results, specifically on the lack of motivation to quit, suggest that current tobacco control measures are not effectively motivating the majority of people who smoke in Germany to quit. This study demonstrated that half of the people who smoke surveyed are not motivated to quit, and only 5% plan to quit in the next month. Older segments of the study population (aged 50+) and those in lower-income brackets are even less motivated to quit, with smoking enjoyment being the biggest barrier to quitting, affecting more than 60% of people who smoke and do not want to quit.

    “Lack of motivation to quit smoking and barriers to quitting manifest in different ways, implying that differentiated approaches are required to help people who smoke successfully move away from smoking cigarettes. They should have access to accurate information on the role of combustion-generated toxicants as the primary cause of smoking-related diseases and the relative risks of SFPs compared with continuing to smoke. Sustainably reducing smoking prevalence in Germany will require an integrated strategy that complements the existing tobacco control and prevention measures with tools based on the principles of tobacco harm reduction.”

  • PCA Announces Next Four Shows

    PCA Announces Next Four Shows

    After the 2025 PCA Convention & Trade Show ended last weekend, the Premium Cigar Association announced the show dates and locations for the next four years:

    • PCA 2026 — New Orleans Morial Convention Center (April 17-20)
    • PCA 2027 — Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall (March 5-8)
    • PCA 2028 — Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall (March 3-6)
    • PCA 2029 — New Orleans Morial Convention Center (TBA)

    The PCA says nearly 6,000 people registered to attend this year’s event, making it the largest cigar-focused event in the world. The annual PCA Convention & Trade Show is an industry event where companies that sell cigars, cigar accessories, and other adjacent products exhibit.

  • UAE Points to Sweden in Approving Nicotine Pouches

    UAE Points to Sweden in Approving Nicotine Pouches

    The UAE approved the sale of synthetic nicotine pouches—subject to sellers meeting safety standards set out by the government—with the hope that the smoke-free nicotine alternatives entering the market would be helpful in helping people quit smoking. Smoking rates remain relatively high in the UAE and Middle East in general, with 12% and 20% of the people smoking, respectively.

    The UAE vaping market is expected to be worth $78 million this year, according to market analysts Statista.

    UAE officials pointed to the potential nicotine pouches showed elsewhere, particularly in Europe. With the help of alternative nicotine products, Sweden slashed smoking rates and transitioned toward harm-reduction public health policies on tobacco, reducing rates of lung, lip and oral cancer, as well as oesophageal, and stomach cancers considerably since 1980.

    “We have replaced cigarette smoking with alternative nicotine products, pouches, and that has really had a dramatic impact on the public health here in Sweden,” said Patrik Hildingsson, director of oral category communication at Philip Morris, producers of the globally popular Zyn nicotine pouch. “Cigarette smoking is harmful to health, there is no doubt about that. To reduce the harm, you need to quit, but many people just don’t, they stay with their cigarettes. For these people, we need to give them alternatives to get out of the combustions, the smoke process, and the chemicals that come with burning a crop.”