As technology evolves, people across the world are slowly discovering new dangers presented by this evolution. Cyber threats are becoming an increasingly prevalent worry for individuals, businesses, and government institutions.
A new American Cancer Society study suggests that the public health community should be more careful about the messaging it delivers on the differences in harm between combustible tobacco and vaping products.
In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given authority to regulate tobacco products. And, since 2009, the FDA has overseen the manufacturing and sale of numerous tobacco products from combustible cigarettes to new tobacco harm reduction products. Over the last 13 years the number of Americans that are classified as smokers has continued to decline. Despite these significant declines, the FDA is now seeking to enact new product standards that specifically eliminate menthol in combustible cigarettes. While reducing the number of smokers and preventing youth uptake is a worthwhile public health goal, the FDA should refrain from prohibitionist policies such as a ban on menthol products. This report examines FDA’s role in regulating tobacco products, including combustible cigarettes and certain requirements manufacturers and retailers must comply with. The report then analyzes youth use of combustible cigarettes, concluding that even while menthol cigarettes have been available for retail sale, youth use continued to decline. The report then goes on to evaluate whether increased sales of menthol cigarettes correlate with increased use of cigarettes among both youth, young adults and all adults, and finds no correlation. The report also examines the demographics of menthol cigarette smokers. Further, the report looks into the both the loss of revenue to the states that will be caused by a federal menthol while local and state agencies will be forced to increase costs for enforcement, as evidenced in state menthol bans. Finally, the report analyzes FDA’s role in both recognizing and promoting tobacco harm reduction products for adults who smoke and urges the agency to focus its priorities on issuing marketing orders for novel tobacco harm reduction products.
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given authority to regulate tobacco products. Since then, the FDA has overseen the manufacturing and sale of numerous tobacco products from combustible cigarettes to new tobacco harm reduction products. Despite these significant declines, today the agency is trying to enact new product standards, specifically eliminating characterizing flavors in all cigars.[i] The agency claims that prohibiting flavors in cigars will “reduce the appeal of cigars, particularly to youth and young adults, and decrease the likelihood of experimentation,” as well as increase the “likelihood that existing cigar smokers may quit.”[ii] This report examines FDA’s role in regulating tobacco products, including cigars and certain requirements manufacturers and retailers must comply with. The report then analyzes youth use of cigars, concluding that even while flavored cigars have been available for retail sale, youth use continued to decline. The report then goes on to evaluate whether increased sales of flavored cigars correlate with increased use of cigars among both youth and adults, and finds no correlation. The report also examines the health risk profile of cigars, with numerous studies indicating that moderate use of cigars does not amount to the same health risks posed by combustible cigarettes. Finally, the report analyzes FDA’s role in both recognizing and promoting tobacco harm reduction products for adults who smoke and urges the agency to focus its priorities on issuing marketing orders for novel tobacco harm reduction products.
After months of record-breaking inflation, the city of Waterloo wants your vote to add to the inflation burden.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) urges members of Congress to oppose the “Inflation Reduction Act.” This continued push for reckless government spending and taxation will hurt taxpayers and consumers during a time of increased economic uncertainty and pain.
Congratulations, lawmaker...you’ve successfully located the one beach that no one else has managed to find. This seclusion, though, comes at a cost. Your cell phone network isn’t cooperating, and you need to stay in contact with your family (and constituents) from your sandy paradise.
Raising taxes during a recession is one of the few policy principles in Washington that’s universally understood to be a bad idea. Yet, on the heels of news that the nation has gone two straight quarters with negative GDP growth, it appears Congress is about to do just that.
The first Thursday of August (August 4th this year) is National IPA Day, which celebrates “one of the most popular types of craft beer in the world; the India Pale Ale.”
In a rare admission of what the tobacco harm reduction community has called a “bureaucratic nightmare,” Robert Califf, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has asked for an independent review, including “an initial assessment of the processes and procedures, resourcing and organizational structure” for the Center for Tobacco Products, as well as food programs under FDA.
