Tag: United States

  • PMI Settles D.C. Flavor Ban Violations Case

    PMI Settles D.C. Flavor Ban Violations Case

    Image: PMI

    Swedish Match North America (SMNA) will pay $1.2 million to settle an investigation into violations of Washington D.C.’s flavored tobacco ban, reports Reuters.

    The District of Columbia attorney general’s office accused SMNA of facilitating online sales of “tens of thousands” of flavored Zyn nicotine pouches to D.C. consumers between Oct. 1, 2022, when the ban was enacted, and June 30, 2024.

    SMNA parent company Philip Morris International must now monitor its distributor’s compliance with D.C.’s ban quarterly and stop sales of flavored Zyn pouches through Zyn.com and related e-commerce platforms.

    Nicotine pouches became the second most commonly used tobacco product in the U.S. after combustible cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    PMI suspended sales on Zyn.com after it had been issued a subpoena by the D.C. attorney general earlier this year.

    Swedish Match would continue to focus on its brick-and-mortar stores, PMI said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters.

    .

  • FDA Submits Proposal to Limit Nicotine

    FDA Submits Proposal to Limit Nicotine

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has submitted a proposal to limit the amount of nicotine in tobacco products, reports CNN.

    The FDA has been discussing limiting nicotine levels since 2018, and this week, the FDA submitted the proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This move comes as the Biden administration enters into its last weeks and President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January 2025.

    “A proposed product standard to establish a maximum nicotine level to reduce the addictiveness of cigarettes and certain combusted tobacco products, when finalized, would be among the most impactful population-level actions in the history of U.S. tobacco product regulation,” the FDA said in a statement.

    “Once finalized, this rule could be a game-changer in our nation’s efforts to eliminate tobacco use,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Making tobacco products nonaddictive would dramatically reduce the number of young people who become hooked when they are experimenting. To fully address the toll of tobacco on our nation’s health and across all communities, it is critical to reduce nicotine levels to nonaddictive levels in all commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.”

    “Certainly, there would be individuals who would benefit from substantially lower nicotine levels and find it easier to quit,” said Rose Marie Robertson, a cardiologist and chief science officer at the American Heart Association. “It’s really hard to quit. I’ve seen patients over many years who have gotten the wake-up call with a heart attack or a stroke and really want to improve their health and reduce their risk, but it’s just very, very hard to do.”

    The submitted proposal does not mean that there will be any immediate changes. The OMB’s approval process can take months, and there must be a public comment period. It is likely that the tobacco industry will sue the government as well, as has been seen with other proposed regulations.

    It is unclear what will happen with the proposal following the change in presidency. In Trump’s first term, the Trump administration signaled that it wanted to limit nicotine, but during this year’s election season, the tobacco industry donated heavily to Republicans, and Trump’s pick for chief of staff was previously a tobacco lobbyist.

  • Wild Bill’s Tobacco Buys 34 Cheap Tobacco Shops

    Wild Bill’s Tobacco Buys 34 Cheap Tobacco Shops

    Credit: Wild Bill’s Tobacco

    Wild Bill’s Tobacco has acquired all 34 locations of Cheap Tobacco, including 33 in Central and Eastern Ohio and one in West Virginia, according to a press release from Wild Bill’s Tobacco. The deal was finalized in early November, allowing Cheap Tobacco’s Founder and CEO, Dennis Harper, to retire after “celebrating his 30th year with the company.”

    Harper stated, “We’re confident that Wild Bill’s Tobacco will continue to provide amazing products and service you’ve come to expect while adding even more options to enjoy. We wouldn’t have passed the torch to anyone else but the Wild Bill’s family. Their reputation as a leader in our industry can’t be understated. We are proud to have served you over the years and know you will enjoy the added benefits of this transition.”

    Prior to this deal, Wild Bills’s Tobacco had over 200 stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, according to the release. Wild Bill’s said it is “thrilled” to add its first store in West Virginia with this acquisition. Wild Bill’s said it is the second largest tobacco retailer in the United States and continues to grow its brand rapidly as the premier tobacco retailer in the world.

    “This acquisition allows us to serve a broader customer base and be a part of new communities across the Midwest,” said Jon Welzel, chief marketing officer at Wild Bill’s Tobacco. “Guests will still experience the competitive pricing that became synonymous with Cheap Tobacco, but the store design that is brought to life and streamlined for customer needs, selection, and speed at checkout, as well as the expanded product offerings and premium customer experiences, will create a unique experience for these new members of our family.”

    The retailer plans to renovate and provide a facelift to all 34 Cheap Tobacco stores within six to nine months. Walk-in humidors will be added to each location, featuring cigars from around the world.

    Through this acquisition, Wild Bill’s Tobacco “has retained all Cheap Tobacco store-level employees, from district managers down, and plans to offer additional benefits for Cheap Tobacco staff members.”

  • U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent

    U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent

    A new report from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative showed that from 2019 to 2023, there was a 47 percent increase in e-cigarette unit sales at U.S. retail outlets. Flavors like fruit, candy, mint, menthol and desserts accounted for more than 80 percent of sales.

    The report, Monitoring E-Cigarette Trends in the United States: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Kids from Flavored E-Cigarettes, urges states to adopt comprehensive statewide policies restricting flavored e-cigarette sales. The report found that the most effective policies to restrict these sales clearly define products and include comprehensive flavored tobacco restrictions without flavor or product exceptions, incorporate community and retailer education and are supported by enforcement.

    “The rise in e-cigarette sales, particularly those with youth-appealing flavors and graphics, is deeply concerning, especially as manufacturers evolve e-cigarette products to feature gamified devices and increased nicotine strength,” said Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, in a statement. “However, the data from states like Massachusetts, California and New York demonstrate how comprehensive policies can effectively curb youth access. This report underscores the urgent need for widespread adoption of similar measures to protect our young people from the risks associated with e-cigarette use.”

    “E-cigarette sales have skyrocketed in recent years, with an explosion of new products—many designed to attract and addict our youth with increasingly high levels of nicotine,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and president of Truth Initiative. “Today’s e-cigarettes are available in a vast array of enticing flavors and feature sleek, colorful designs. They’re also bigger, stronger and cheaper than previous devices, which only heightens their appeal. Even more concerning, over 80 percent of e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. While enforcement is vital to ending the youth e-cigarette crisis, retailers also must do the right thing, take responsibility to protect their young customers and remove all illegal products from store shelves.”

    “While the latest data from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative show a dangerous rise in sales of e-cigarettes, they also reveal a notable decline in sales where strong policies restricting flavored e-cigarettes are implemented,” said Kelly Henning, public health program lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The progress in states with strong policies underscores the urgent need for more action to swiftly and successfully combat the flavored e-cigarette epidemic among youth across the United States.”

  • Marijuana More Popular in U.S. Than Cigarettes: Poll

    Marijuana More Popular in U.S. Than Cigarettes: Poll

    TR Archives

    American adults are now more likely to smoke marijuana than tobacco cigarettes.

    That’s according to new survey data from Gallup finding that 15 percent of U.S. adults reported that they smoke cannabis, which is more than the 11 percent of those who told the polling firm that they had smoked any cigarettes in the past week.

    “While not statistically different from the average of 14 percent in 2021-2022,” Gallup said of the latest two-year average of U.S. marijuana use polling data, the rise to 15 percent is “consistent with the upward trend in recent years.”

    Among other findings, the latest data—from 2023 to 2024—indicate that men are more likely than women to report smoking marijuana, at 17 percent compared to 11 percent, media reports. Younger adults, ages 18 to 34, were also more likely (19 percent) to smoke cannabis than adults aged 35 to 54 (18 percent) and those 55 and older (10 percent).

    Gallup says the results are reported in two-year averages to improve statistical reliability.

  • Boredom, Relaxation Top Drivers of Teen Vaping

    Boredom, Relaxation Top Drivers of Teen Vaping

    Boredom, relaxation and experimentation are the key drivers of teen vaping, according to new research from University of Michigan (U-M).

    Published in Pediatrics, the study “Reasons for Vaping Among U.S. Adolescents” examined data from in-school surveys of U.S. students in eighth, 10th and 12th grades.

    “Vaping has become the primary way that adolescents use nicotine,” said author Megan Patrick of U-M’s Institute for Social Research. “Understanding why adolescents vape is important for figuring out how to reduce and prevent nicotine use among teenagers.”

    Of the 5,082 respondents, data showed relaxation was the most common reason cited, no matter the grade or frequency of vaping. Boredom landed in the top three reasons across frequency groups as well.  

    Among 12th graders who reported vaping near-daily, a third said they vaped to feel good or because it is more convenient than cigarettes. Less than 10 percent of that same group said vaping helped them quit smoking cigarettes.

    Near-daily vaping in the past 30 days was reported by 1.7 percent of eighth graders, 4.2 percent of 10th graders and 7.8 percent of 12th graders. “Relaxation” emerged as the top reason for vaping, cited by nearly half of adolescents who vaped in the past year and over 70 percent of near-daily vapers.  

    The study stresses the importance of understanding the diverse reasons behind teen vaping, particularly the significant role of stress relief. Given that a large proportion of near-daily vapers use vaping to relax, incorporating mental health support into prevention programs is crucial.

    “Our findings illustrate a shift over the past decade in the reasons adolescents vape, moving from experimentation to stress relief and relaxation, highlighting key areas for intervention,” Patrick said.

    Other frequently mentioned reasons include “experimentation” and “boredom,” with “taste” also ranking high. Among near-daily vapers, significant numbers noted they vaped to “feel good” or because it is “more convenient than cigarettes,” with a smaller percentage aiming to “help quit cigarettes.”

    “Among the adolescents who vape near-daily, 43 percent report that they vape because they are hooked or have to have it,” Patrick said. “The fact that so many adolescents feel addicted to nicotine is concerning. Another reason, reported by almost one in five near-daily vapers, was to manage their weight. Additional research is needed on this, but parents and health care professionals should be aware that many adolescents are vaping to try to lose weight or control their weight.”

    The authors of the study argue that screening for stress and anxiety should be conducted alongside nicotine screenings to provide early intervention. These experts also noted a shift in why adolescents are vaping, as 2015 data listed relaxation as only the fifth most common reason.

    They argue further research is needed to understand those adolescents vaping for weight management—reported by nearly a fifth of 12th graders who vaped near-daily.  

    The research was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

    .

  • FDA Renews MRTPs for General Snus

    FDA Renews MRTPs for General Snus

    After a scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a renewal of modified risk granted orders to Swedish Match USA, Inc., for eight General Snus products.

    With the renewal, the products may continue to be marketed – as they have been authorized to do so since 2019 – with the following modified risk claim: “Using General Snus instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.” 

    The products receiving modified risk granted orders are: General Loose, General Dry Mint Portion Original Mini, General Portion Original Large, General Classic Blend Portion White Large-12ct, General Mint Portion White Large, General Nordic Mint Portion White Large-12ct, General Portion White Large, and General Wintergreen Portion White Large.

    The modified risk granted orders issued by FDA are specific to the products as mentioned above and expire Nov. 7, 2032. If the agency determines that, among other things, the continued marketing of the products no longer benefits the health of the population as a whole, the agency may withdraw the orders.

    “The FDA’s review determined that this modified risk claim is supported by scientific evidence, that consumers understand the claim, and that consumers appropriately perceive the relative risk of these products compared to cigarettes,” the FDA stated in a release. “FDA found that these modified risk products, as actually used by consumers, will significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population as a whole.

    “In particular, the available scientific evidence, including long-term epidemiological studies, shows that relative to cigarette smoking, exclusive use of these products poses lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. The available evidence does not indicate significant youth initiation of these products.”

    The modified risk granted order does not permit the company to market the product with any other modified risk claim that conveys or could mislead consumers into believing that the products are endorsed or approved by FDA, or that the agency deems the products to be safe for use by consumers.

  • VTA Celebrates Impact of U.S. Vaper Voters

    VTA Celebrates Impact of U.S. Vaper Voters

    The Vapor Technology Association (VTA) celebrated the political currency and success of vaper voters in critical 2024 battleground election states and districts during the recent U.S. elections. According to the trade group, vaper voters helped secure electoral victories for Conservative candidates up and down the ballot.

    VTA says its “I Vape I Vote” campaign activated over 360,000 low-propensity voters to support Conservative principles and candidates, including President-elect Donald Trump, in key battleground states and districts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. 

    “Vaper voters showed up in droves to support Conservative candidates who will protect and preserve the rights of Americans to use flavored vaping products,” said VTA Executive Director Tony Abboud.

    “VTA’s I Vape I Vote campaign made clear that vaper voters had their voices heard at the ballot box and ensured that Conservative candidates would deliver full-throated endorsements of Americans’ right to use flavored vapes and, critically, use that support to establish a voter currency which propelled several Conservative candidates into office.

    “While we are proud to have engaged in the process with several of these Conservative candidates, we are now ready to see their campaign promises committed to action as they work with President-elect Trump and the relevant federal agencies to fix the broken regulatory process by implementing a streamlined regulatory process that ensures access to flavored vapes is protected and companies and distributors have transparent, rational and affordable rules of the road when it comes to this regulatory framework.”

  • FDA to Review 2ONE Marketing Application

    FDA to Review 2ONE Marketing Application

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review 2ONE Labs’ premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) for 2ONE brand nicotine pouches.

    According to 2ONE Labs CEO Vincent Schuman, this means that the company’s application will now enter the next critical phase of the FDA review process. “Our company will continue to fully fund this application through to its successful completion, and our wholesale, retail and sponsorship partners should view this ‘acceptance’ as a sign of our ability to navigate this complex PMTA process and our unwavering commitment to support the long-term availability of the 2ONE brand in the U.S. market,” Schuman said in a German-language statement.

    “We have developed 2ONE nicotine pouches for adult consumers—21 and older—who find it difficult to switch from combustible or traditional oral tobacco products. The availability of the 2ONE brand in the market over the past five years and the interest and growth our brand has achieved through strong retail partnerships, such as with Circle K, have shown that it is possible even for innovative companies to identify and introduce unique brands that truly offer adults the perfect transition product.”

    Earlier this month, 2ONE Labs filed a trademark infringement lawsuit and a preliminary injunction against Imperial Brands subsidiaries’ Zone nicotine pouch trademark. The suit alleges that Imperial’s Zone products willfully infringe the 2ONE nicotine pouch brand.

  • FAA: In-Flight No-Smoking Signs Can Stay on Forever

    FAA: In-Flight No-Smoking Signs Can Stay on Forever

    Photo: Dolores Harvey

    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Oct. 22 ended a requirement that aircraft have an off switch for the No Smoking signs in their aircraft, reports The New York Times. The change comes decades after smoking was banned on commercial flights in the U.S.

    That obsolete requirement had become “time-consuming and burdensome” for airlines and airplane manufacturers to comply with, the FAA said in a rule enacting the change. In February, for example, United Airlines was briefly unable to use a handful of new Airbus planes because the “No Smoking” signs on board couldn’t be shut off. The issue was resolved after the FAA granted United an exemption.

    Despite the fire hazard and health risks, airlines permitted smoking on their flights for decades. In 1973, the federal government required airlines to seat smokers and nonsmokers in separate sections, which did little to protect passengers. In 1988 the FAA banned smoking on domestic flights of less than two hours. Two years later, it expanded the ban to flights under six hours, which covered most domestic routes.

    In-flight smoking was at the center of major tobacco lawsuit in the 1990s, when lawyers sued tobacco companies on behalf of  flight attendants suffering from the effects of secondhand smoke. In 1997 the tobacco industry agreed to pay out $300 million to fund the establishment of a research institute. It also agreed to support a federal smoking ban on international flights, which the FAA passed in 2000, extending the ban from a decade earlier to permanently block smoking on any flight landing or departing from a U.S. airport.

    Other countries took similar steps and, with few exceptions, smoking is now prohibited on almost every flight worldwide. In the rule that took effect Oct. 22, the FAA said the no smoking signs “continue to be an effective reminder for the traveling public.”