Read articles from North America

May 12, 2025 by nhjournal.com

New Hampshire is debating measures to protect youth from smoking while aiding adult smokers. Science and real-world impact should guide decisions, considering flavored alternatives' role in quitting smoking. Bans could harm adult smokers without curbing youth access. Data from Massachusetts and the CDC show benefits of varied nicotine products, with e-cigarettes being significantly less harmful. Despite declines in youth vaping and adult smoking rates, public health groups push for prohibitions. Mental health issues drive youth vaping more than flavors. Flavors assist adults in quitting smoking, as supported by the FDA. It's crucial to acknowledge progress in reducing smoking rates and advocate for a regulated marketplace promoting harm reduction.

May 09, 2025 by cbsnews.com

Baltimore accuses Zyn nicotine pouch owners, including Philip Morris and Swedish Match, of targeting children with deceptive marketing, violating consumer protection laws. Mayor Scott criticizes the companies for prioritizing profits over public health, particularly children's well-being. Lawsuit alleges fake advertising, enticing youth with promotions and offers. Zyn pouches are nicotine products placed between lip and gums, gaining popularity among the youth for flavors like cinnamon and mint. Concerns include addiction, mental health issues, and oral health risks. FDA approved 20 flavors in January, but health experts urge caution.

May 08, 2025 by gfn.tv

Despite the growing use of safer nicotine being strongly associated with declining smoking rates, there is still systemic opposition to these products from institutions and NGOs - but why is this the case? In this episode Lindsey Stroud joins us to unpack the FDA's reluctance to approve new nicotine products, and the misinformation used to prop up the opposition to THR.

May 08, 2025 by filtermag.org

New York City Health Department's press release, allegedly led by Michael Bloomberg, showcases a biased approach against tobacco harm reduction. Equating vaping to the leading cause of death misleads the public. While smoking rates have declined, the city demonizes vaping rather than celebrating its role in smoking cessation. Crackdowns on vaping products prevail, while ignoring the benefits they offer smokers. The city's lawsuit against flavored vapes exemplifies a misguided focus on youth appeal, neglecting adult preferences. Disregarding harm reduction principles, the city's stance on nicotine perpetuates cigarette consumption over safer alternatives. The campaign reflects a lack of access to truthful health information and obstructs progress towards saving lives.

May 07, 2025 by rights4vapers.com

Rights4Vapers congratulates the Liberal Party on forming the new federal government in Canada. They urge Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Health Ministers to prioritize harm reduction and Canadians' health with evidence-based nicotine policies. The advocacy group stresses the importance of distinguishing safer nicotine products like vaping devices from traditional cigarettes and establishing a Safer Nicotine Act. They call for the reversal of restrictions on nicotine pouch sales and emphasize the need for updated regulations to support smoking cessation effectively.

May 07, 2025 by washingtonexaminer.com

Activists urge President Trump to tackle the sale of illicit Chinese e-cigarettes to U.S. youths. Hispanic Business Caucus President wrote a letter calling for stricter regulations and border security to combat black market vapes. The CDC reports a decrease in teenage vaping, but over 1.6 million students used e-cigarettes in 2024. Most illicit vapes are traced back to China, fueling a billion-dollar market by 2030. Dubbed "Not For Sale In China," these products harm American youth. Legislative steps include Trump's ban proposal on flavored e-cigs and raising the tobacco buying age. Despite bipartisan efforts, administrative hurdles pose challenges in enforcing regulation and penalties on offenders.

May 05, 2025 by westernstandard.news

Australia's tobacco excise revenue plummeted to $7.4 billion AUD this year from $16.3 billion AUD in 2019‑20, despite high taxes. Smokers turned to cheaper contraband due to tax hikes, leading to a 50% revenue drop in five years. Canadian authorities should pay attention as they increase taxes and regulations, resulting in a rise in vape store robberies across the country.

May 02, 2025 by mjbizdaily.com

Three research firms — Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (New York), Capital Consulting Services (St. Louis), and Whitney Economics (Oregon) — are competing to study Missouri’s cannabis market. The goal is to help the state decide whether to issue more adult-use marijuana business licenses. All firms agree that Missouri’s recreational cannabis market, launched in 2022, has been a success. Experts say the success is largely due to the state issuing only the minimum number of licenses allowed by its constitution.

May 02, 2025 by mjbizdaily.com

Three research firms — Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (New York), Capital Consulting Services (St. Louis), and Whitney Economics (Oregon) — are competing to study Missouri’s cannabis market. The goal is to help the state decide whether to issue more adult-use marijuana business licenses. All firms agree that Missouri’s recreational cannabis market, launched in 2022, has been a success. Experts say the success is largely due to the state issuing only the minimum number of licenses allowed by its constitution.

May 01, 2025 by axios.com

The CEO of Philip Morris International’s U.S. business claims nicotine is misunderstood and offers cognitive benefits, arguing that regulators should support smoking alternatives. This comes as PMI pushes to end cigarette sales. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now leading the Department of Health and Human Services, there may be major changes in tobacco regulation. Meanwhile, PMI's nicotine pouch brand Zyn is seeing rapid growth in the U.S., with shipments in the Americas up nearly 54% in Q1 2025. Smoke-free products now make up 42% of PMI's revenue, compared to 25% a year ago. Although PMI still earns most of its revenue from smokers, that could soon shift due to Zyn’s rising popularity.