In the News 19th June

Fridays News at a glance:

HSCC issues the Call For Evidence – Nicotine Itself Isn’t The Real Villain – New UK Research Refutes E-Cigarette Gateway Claims – An open letter to Ruth Malone – British tobacco policy experts say Singapore ban on e-cigarettes and low-risk tobacco products, unscientific, unethical and harmful to health – Congress Moves to Protect the Vapor Industry from the FDA’s Deeming Ban – Gerry Stimson Interview – Nicotine Science and Policy – Daily Digest

HSCC issues the Call For Evidence

Midnight Musings

The Health & Social Care Committee has issued it’s long awaited Call For Evidence in relation to the recently published Public Health Bill. I have cut and pasted the contents of the email I received and present for you to read (complete with all relevant links) and digest…..

Nicotine Itself Isn’t The Real Villain

Sally Satel – Forbes:

The man in charge of tobacco regulation at the Food and Drug Administration says we “need a national debate on nicotine.” Good idea. But first we need to understand what nicotine is – and what it isn’t….

New UK Research Refutes E-Cigarette Gateway Claims

Michael Siegel – The Rest of the Story

New research out of the UK completely refutes the e-cigarette gateway claim by demonstrating that nonsmoking youth who experiment with e-cigarettes are not becoming addicted to vaping and are not even becoming regular e-cigarette users….

An open letter to Ruth Malone 

From Sept ’14 but very pertinent entry especially as ASH Scotland is holding a ‪#‎tobaccofree‬ conference currently ,with Ruth Malone present and talk of ‘endgames’ – argvargen

In a recent series of statements & exchanges with the vaping community on twitter, you appeared to acknowledge the important role that ecigs are playing, and yet you still want to crowbar a smoke-free non-tobacco product into your smoke-free air act. No. No. And once more, so I know you have heard me, No…..

British tobacco policy experts say:

“Singapore ban on e-cigarettes and low-risk tobacco products, unscientific, unethical and harmful to health”

In a detailed letter to the Minister, Mr. Gan Kim Yong, the two veterans of the European and international struggle against tobacco-related disease, argue that banning low risk alternatives to smoking would be unscientific, unethical and harmful to health – and effectively a protection of the cigarette trade at the expense of the health of smokers….

Vapers In Power – Call to Action

Three ways you can help vaping survive this week:

1. It looks like there won’t be a ban on vaping in public places in England http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Legal/Legislation/No-ban-on-e-cigarettes-in-English-pubs-after-Wales-reveals-plan . Write to the Department of Health to thank them for this fantastic decision, why not include in your message why ecigs work for you? Use this form: http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/contactus.nsf/memo?openform

2. Haven Holidays need to know why this sign is so so wrong – you could tweet (@haven), contact them via facebook (https://www.facebook.com/havenholidays) or use their live chat (http://www.haven.com/support/contact-us.aspx). Or, dare we suggest it, all three?

3. The Lib Dem “Stop Welsh Labour’s e-cigs ban” needs a lot more signatures – Get 3 friends or family members to sign it: http://www.welshlibdems.wales/ecigs

Congress Moves to Protect the Vapor Industry from the FDA’s Deeming Ban

Greg Conley – AVA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Vaping Association, a leading advocate for the benefits of vapor products such as electronic cigarettes, praised the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies for its approval of a spending bill that would prevent the FDA from regulating the vast majority of vapor products out of existence….

See also: House bill aims for less e-cigarette regulation

Gerry Stimson Interview

On the morning after the Vaper’s party, DaveDorn interviews Professor Gerry Stimson:

Nicotine Science and Policy – Daily Digest