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Category: News This Week

  • New Study Sounds Alarm on Amount of Nicotine in Vapes

    New Study Sounds Alarm on Amount of Nicotine in Vapes

    A new study conducted by the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative shows that between February 2020 and June 2024, while the number of e-cigarette units sold each month rose by 34.7%, the total monthly nicotine content sold increased by 249.2%. 

    “Measurements that take into account both e-liquid volume and nicotine concentration paint a more realistic picture of the size and strength of e-cigarettes being sold in stores today,” said Fatma Romeh M. Ali, PhD, health economist and consultant with the CDC Foundation. “Measuring e-cigarette sales in milligrams of nicotine, rather than just counting products, is critical to understanding the public health impact.”

    Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the study says the increase is largely driven by disposable devices. The authors reason that because nicotine can be purchased cheaper, it is now more likely to end up with young users, and because there is more nicotine present, those users are likely to become addicted.

    “A disposable e-cigarette today contains significantly more nicotine than it did just a few years ago, posing greater addiction risks—especially for young users,” said Megan Diaz, PhD, research director at Truth Initiative. “These findings raise serious concerns about youth access and affordability because disposables are not only the most popular e-cigarette product among youth, but they’re also the cheapest way to obtain large amounts of nicotine and they come in appealing flavors.”

  • Researchers Find Pouches Shifting Nicotine Delivery Trend with Youth

    Researchers Find Pouches Shifting Nicotine Delivery Trend with Youth

    Researchers at USC’s Keck School of Medicine offered a press release titled “Use of nicotine pouches increases significantly among U.S. teens.” It begins by saying, “The use of nicotine pouches nearly doubled among U.S. high school students between 2023 and 2024,” with Dae-Hee Han, first author of the study, saying, “This growing public health issue needs more attention. Like flavored e-cigarettes when they first emerged, use of this new oral nicotine product is becoming more widespread, particularly among adolescents.”

    Randomly selected responses from one-third of the 10,000 high school students surveyed found that between 2023 and 2024, nicotine pouch use increased from 3.0% to 5.4% all-time, and from 1.3% to 2.6% in the last 30 days. Dual use of nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes also increased, going from 2.7% to 4.7% lifetime and 1.1% to 1.7% in the last 30 days.

    On the other hand, exclusive e-cigarette use declined from 25.7% to 22.0% lifetime, and from 12.3% to 10.1% in the last 30 days. And the use of non-tobacco nicotine products declined from 28.8% to 27.4% lifetime, and from 13.6% to 12.7% in the last 30 days.

    Researchers said the trends reflect a shift in nicotine delivery products rather than a change in the overall prevalence of non-tobacco nicotine use among the students.

  • Smoker Friendly Announces Promotions in Accounting Department

    Smoker Friendly Announces Promotions in Accounting Department

    The Cigarette Store LLC, the parent company of Smoker Friendly, announced the promotions of Cameron Schwehr to vice president of Finance and Accounting, and Jon Gallagher as controller. The two have worked together since 2021.

    Schwehr previously worked in public accounting for 14 years, primarily as an auditor and consultant with nonprofit, construction, and retail companies. He worked with Smoker Friendly as a contractor for six of those years before being hired as Controller in 2021.

    Jon Gallagher, nephew to Smoker Friendly president Dan Gallagher, CEO Terry Gallagher Jr., and senior vice president of Governmental and External Affairs Mary Szarmach, continues to contribute to the legacy of Smoker Friendly’s founding family with his new appointment. He joined Smoker Friendly as an entry-level accountant in 2008, and advanced to accounting analyst, lead analyst, and assistant controller before accepting his latest promotion

    “I’m excited for both Cameron and Jon to take this next step, leading our finance and accounting team, and they will be integral members of our strategic management group,” Dan Gallagher said. “Both have shown tremendous dedication and work ethic in their respective careers with Smoker Friendly.”

  • Dem Lawsuit Wants HHS “Restructure” Undone

    Dem Lawsuit Wants HHS “Restructure” Undone

    A group of Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit today (May 5) to challenge the Trump administration’s decision to fire 10,000 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services employees. Filed in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia said the job cuts and agency consolidations U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced in late March unconstitutionally stripped the department of the resources necessary to do its job.

    The layoffs, in addition to earlier buyout offers and firings of probationary employees, reduced the number of full-time HHS employees from 82,000 to 62,000 and left key offices unable to perform statutory functions, the lawsuit said.

    As part of the restructuring plan, HHS said it was also collapsing 28 divisions into 15 and closing half of its 10 regional offices.

    The states argue that Kennedy lacked the authority to launch the widespread layoffs and restructuring and that the administration violated the U.S. Constitution by usurping Congress’ authority to create and fund agencies’ operations. The states asked a judge to block HHS from implementing Kennedy’s plan announced on March 27, prevent the department from being dismantled, and force the administration to restore health

    HHS declined to comment on the lawsuit. It previously said the restructuring was necessary to streamline its functions and that the layoffs would save taxpayers $1.8 billion annually.

  • PMI Exec Sees Strong Potential for Smoke-Free Products in Philippines

    PMI Exec Sees Strong Potential for Smoke-Free Products in Philippines

    A top executive of Philip Morris International (PMI) expressed optimism about the growth of smoke-free alternatives in the Philippines, saying the company sees strong potential despite being in the early stages of its market rollout.

    “In the Philippines, we are still at the very early stages, but we have a lot of confidence in smoke-free products,” said Stefano Volpetti, president of the smoke-free products category and chief consumer officer at PMI.

     Volpetti said progress in Metro Manila is already showing promise, drawing parallels with the company’s initial launches in other countries. He said PMI is committed to making smoke-free alternatives accessible to Filipino smokers, particularly through education and proper explanation of the products.

    “If you think about it, when we started in Italy and in Japan, we started from Milan and Nagoya,” Volpetti said. “We are starting the same journey in the Philippines, starting from Metro Manila. It is clear that when those smoke-free alternatives are well explained to Filipino smokers, there is clearly attraction to move from traditional cigarettes.

    “But we are very confident, because this is a journey that we have done in more than 90 countries around the world. We know the recipe of this journey and the progress in Metro Manila is very powerful.”

    At present, PMI’s smoke-free offerings in the Philippines include IQOS devices, HEETS and TEREA sticks, the more affordable BONDS device, BLENDS consumables and the ZYN oral nicotine product. When asked about the affordability of smoke-free products for Filipinos, Volpetti acknowledged the economic barriers but said PMI is working to provide more options.

    “In general, we have two important aspects of this journey,” he said. “The first aspect is to be sure that smokers understand the benefits of smoke-free alternatives. Because if you don’t understand the benefits, if the benefits are not explained to you, it is very difficult to be able to appreciate that. 

    “We are able to design the consumables in a way that is more in tune with the experience of different consumers around the world. [What the consumers around] the world wants in terms of taste, flavor, in terms of pleasure, but also in terms of the budget they are ready to pay. In the coming future, you will see a portfolio that is more balanced between the premium segment and the medium segment. Our mission is to provide choices across all consumer categories.”

  • 22nd Century Announces Q1 Webcast

    22nd Century Announces Q1 Webcast

    22nd Century Group, Inc. will host a webcast May 13, 2025, at 8 a.m. EST to discuss its 2025 first quarter results, which are to be reported in a press release at 6 a.m. EST the same day.

    During the webcast, Larry Firestone, chairman and chief executive officer, and Dan Otto, chief financial officer, will review financial results, discuss progress made in the recent months, and update plans for the 2025 year.

    The live and archived webcast will be accessible on the Events web page in the Company’s Investor Relations section of the website, at https://ir.xxiicentury.com/events. The company suggests listeners log in 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast to register and, if necessary, download and install any required software.

  • Malaysia Wants Vape Ban at State Level, Not Federal 

    Malaysia Wants Vape Ban at State Level, Not Federal 

    The Health Minister for Malaysia said even though the government is not working toward banning vape products on the federal level, it hopes the trend to ban them will continue at the state level as local officials stop issuing licenses to retailers selling vapes and e-cigarettes. 

    “We hope more will take the position of not issuing licenses to vape premises,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said. “Otherwise, any licenses issued must strictly comply with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.”

    On April 24, Terengganu announced it would ban vape products beginning August 1, and then three days later Kedah said it was considering doing the same. Previously, both Johor and Kelantan banned vapor products in 2016.

    When asked if a national ban was being considered, Dzulkefly said the federal government adopted a regulatory enforcement model following the passage of the Act.

    “We took a firm position to regulate tobacco-related products. That is the stance and position of the federal government,” he said. “At the same time, we support state governments that have the authority not to issue vape sales licenses. So let us work together.”

  • Cigarette Plain Packaging Among Tobacco Law Changes Macau Considering 

    Cigarette Plain Packaging Among Tobacco Law Changes Macau Considering 

    The Macau government plans to amend its tobacco control law, with Health Bureau director Alvis Lo Iek Long saying that standardized “plain packaging” for cigarettes will be a key measure to reduce tobacco’s appeal to young people.

    In an interview with public broadcaster TDM, Lo confirmed authorities are speeding up preliminary work on such a measure but noted no timeline has been set due to the legislative process.

    The proposed revisions also include expanding outdoor smoking bans to areas near schools and daycare centers, mirroring existing bus stop restrictions. Authorities also plan to trial “designated smoking areas” based on international models, aiming to balance the rights of smokers and non-smokers. Additionally, the amendment seeks to prohibit the import and sale of novel tobacco products, such as Middle Eastern shisha and herbal cigarettes.

    The current law allows different management entities to designate no-smoking zones, however, Lo said officials are working on pilot programs to define “smoking points” and establish clear signage systems, though specific trial locations have yet to be finalized.

  • CAPHRA Calls for Risk-Proportionate Taxation on Nicotine Products  

    CAPHRA Calls for Risk-Proportionate Taxation on Nicotine Products  

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) released a position paper urging governments across the region to adopt risk-proportionate taxation for safer nicotine products. The paper warns that current tax regimes, often imported from Western models, are failing Asia Pacific’s unique needs and are undermining tobacco harm reduction. 

    “High taxes on safer nicotine products, set at the same level as cigarettes, simply protect the cigarette trade while punishing adults trying to make healthier choices,” said Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA. “Public health policy must empower informed choices, not restrict them through fear and financial barriers.” 

    CAPHRA’s paper highlights that in many Asia Pacific countries, safer nicotine products are either banned or taxed at punitive rates, making them inaccessible for those who need them most. This approach, often driven by international pressure and revenue priorities, fuels black markets and undermines public trust. 

    CAPHRA said countries like Japan, the Philippines, and New Zealand, which have introduced risk-proportionate regulation and taxation, have seen marked declines in smoking rates, and thus calls on governments to follow this evidence, rather than impose one-size-fits-all policies that ignore local realities. 

    “As future health crises loom, prioritizing revenue over people’s well-being is short-sighted and dangerous,” said Loucas. “Governments must align tax policies with science, evidence, and the right to make informed health decisions.” 

    Click here to view the position paper.  

  • Thailand’s Tiered Tobacco Tax System Under Fire

    Thailand’s Tiered Tobacco Tax System Under Fire

    Dr. Roengrudee Patanavanich, an academic at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine, said Thailand’s Excise Department is considering a new tax structure for cigarettes to replace the current system, which has been in effect for almost four years. At present, a two-tier system is applied to excise duties levied on cigarettes, which comprises a 25% tax on cigarette packs with a retail price of up to 72 baht ($2.16) to ease the burden on low-income earners, and 42% for packs priced higher than 72 baht. Packs are also subject to an additional tax of 1.25 baht (3.8 cents) per cigarette, regardless of the retail price.

    Academics say the tiered system has neither curbed illegal cigarettes, increased state revenue, nor prevented new smokers, and are calling on the government to restructure it to a single excise tax rate as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

    Roengrudee said under the previous non-tiered system, government tax revenue increased from 13.6 billion ($408 million) in 1990 to 68.6 billion ($2 billion) in 2017 even as smoking rates declined 12%. She said revenue rates have dropped steadily since the tiered system was introduced in 2017, including a 15-year low of 51.24 billion ($1.5 billion) last year 

    “Since the two-tiered tax system was introduced in 2017, the smoking rate has not fallen, while the Finance Ministry has failed to achieve its goal of collecting 60 billion baht ($1.8 billion) in cigarette tax annually,” Roengrudee said. “The problem of illicit cigarettes also remains unsolved. The WHO presented an analysis of the cigarette tax between 2018 and 2019 to the Excise Department. The WHO suggested Thailand should adopt a single tax rate of 40% and impose an additional tax of 1.25 baht per cigarette.”

    Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, executive secretary of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, spoke out against the Thailand’s Authority of Tobacco’s proposal to change to a three-tiered tax structure. He said that would be a retrograde step, as other countries are shifting to a single-tax rate in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. With the proposed three-tiered structure, the price of cigarettes produced by the TAOT would fall, not different from the prices of illicit cigarettes that avoid taxes, Dr Prakit said, adding this will also lead to cheaper cigarettes being imported from foreign producers to compete with the TAOT’s cigarettes.

    “To tackle cigarette tax avoidance, the government must tighten controls on illicit cigarettes instead of reducing taxes or using multiple-tiered tax systems. Cheaper prices will prompt more people to smoke,” Prakit said.