Read articles from North America

May 13, 2026 by 2firsts.com

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned due to opposition to fruit-flavored vapes and clashes with various groups. The White House pressured FDA for wider vape approvals. Makary's concerns included appeal to youth. Controversies during his tenure included Covid vaccine memo and staffing disruptions. FDA's latest actions include approving fruit-flavored vapes and easing marketing rules. Acting commissioner is FDA food chief Kyle Diamantas. Makary's exit may impact U.S. vape regulation amid debates on harm reduction and youth usage prevention. The future of flavored vapes and nicotine products will be influenced by government, public health, and industry dynamics.

May 13, 2026 by reason.com

Resistance to flavoured nicotine products appears to have played a central role in the resignation of former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary. Reports suggest that growing tensions within the Trump administration intensified after Makary opposed or delayed approval of certain flavoured vaping products. The dispute reflected wider divisions over how vaping should be regulated, particularly around balancing youth protection with harm reduction for adult smokers. Critics of Makary argued that excessive caution was limiting access to regulated alternatives that could help reduce cigarette use. Supporters, however, maintained that concerns over youth appeal and long-term health effects justified stricter oversight of flavoured products. The controversy highlights the increasingly political nature of nicotine regulation in the United States, where scientific, commercial and ideological pressures continue to collide.

May 12, 2026 by statnews.com

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is facing growing scrutiny after introducing new guidance that eases enforcement against some unauthorised vaping and nicotine products currently under review. Critics argue that the policy could allow more flavoured products to remain on the market without formal authorisation, raising concerns about industry influence and political pressure. The shift comes shortly after the FDA authorised fruit-flavoured vape products for the first time in the United States, signalling a significant change in the agency’s regulatory approach. Supporters of the move argue that regulated flavoured alternatives may help adult smokers switch away from cigarettes, particularly when combined with strict age-verification technology. At the same time, public health experts warn that loosening oversight could increase youth appeal and weaken confidence in the FDA’s scientific independence.
The debate reflects broader tensions between harm reduction, political influence and youth protection in shaping future nicotine policy in the United States.

May 12, 2026 by marijuanamoment.net

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to approve a report directing the DEA and FDA to address unregulated cannabinoid products threatening consumer safety. The directive also targets money laundering schemes linked to Chinese-connected illegal marijuana businesses and proposes wastewater surveillance in federal prisons. The report is part of a spending bill covering various agencies and responds to concerns regarding the proliferation of intoxicating cannabinoids. Additionally, the legislation blocks the rescheduling of cannabis and protects state medical cannabis programs. The House is focusing on health risks from cannabis products and research on psychedelics, while a separate bill aids industrial hemp producers. Future legislation may allow military veterans access to medical marijuana recommendations.

May 12, 2026 by clearingtheair.eu

Canada’s proposed ban on vape flavours appears to be losing momentum as growing evidence challenges concerns that vaping acts as a gateway to smoking. Critics argue that restrictions on non-tobacco flavours could produce unintended consequences, including higher cigarette consumption and expansion of illicit markets. Research from Canada and other countries suggests that many adult vapers rely on flavours to remain smoke-free and may return to smoking if those options disappear. At the same time, studies examining flavour bans have raised questions about whether such policies achieve their intended public health outcomes.
The debate reflects broader tensions between youth protection strategies and harm reduction approaches aimed at helping adults move away from combustible cigarettes.

May 12, 2026 by aol.com

A Texas court has ruled that nicotine pouches cannot automatically be treated the same as traditional smokeless tobacco products under existing state law. The decision centres on how these products are legally defined, particularly as nicotine pouches contain no tobacco leaf despite delivering nicotine. The ruling could have broader implications for taxation, regulation and how alternative nicotine products are classified across the United States. Critics of stricter regulation argue that treating tobacco-free nicotine products identically to cigarettes or chewing tobacco ignores important differences in risk profiles. The case reflects the growing legal and policy debate over how newer nicotine alternatives should fit within frameworks originally designed for combustible or traditional tobacco products.

May 11, 2026 by dcjournal.com

Heavy taxation and strict regulation of products often lead to unintended consequences, including the growth of black markets and illicit trade. Historical examples, such as alcohol prohibition in the United States, show this pattern clearly. A recent KPMG report highlights similar issues in Latin America and Canada, where high tobacco taxes and restrictive policies have contributed to increased smuggling and criminal activity. The argument suggests that governments should reconsider heavy-handed approaches and instead adopt more balanced, consumer-focused regulation.

May 11, 2026 by cbc.ca

Canada's health minister, Marjorie Michel, is considering banning vaping flavors to combat the country's high youth vaping rate. Despite pressure to act, Michel is still reviewing the decision. Research suggests flavor bans reduce youth vaping without increasing smoking rates. While vaping can help adult smokers quit, it poses risks, and vaping among Canadian youth is a concern. The vaping industry resists restrictions citing an illicit market. Provinces like Nova Scotia and Quebec have implemented flavor bans, proving effective in reducing youth vaping. Health experts warn of a growing nicotine addiction crisis among young Canadians due to appealing flavors. Michel collaborates with provinces to address the issue, highlighting the need for a comprehensive national ban.

May 08, 2026 by qz.com

The FDA on Tuesday authorized the sale of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes for the first time, clearing four products from Los Angeles-based vaping company Glas Inc. for adult use in the U.S. The authorized products — marketed under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol, and Fresh Menthol — are e-liquid pods containing 50mg/ml of tobacco-derived nicotine, according to the FDA. Gold and Sapphire are mango and blueberry flavors, respectively, according to NBC News. Until Tuesday's action, every federally authorized vaping product had been either tobacco- or menthol-flavored.

May 07, 2026 by filtermag.org

The United States has authorised fruit-flavoured vaping products for the first time, marking a major shift in federal nicotine regulation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mango and blueberry vape pods after determining that new age-verification technology could help limit youth access. For years, concerns over underage vaping had been the main reason flavoured products were denied authorisation in the US market. Supporters argue that flavoured alternatives may help adult smokers move away from cigarettes, particularly as smoking cessation tools evolve. At the same time, public health organisations warn that the decision could increase youth appeal and reverse progress made in reducing teenage vaping rates. The move reflects a broader shift in the ongoing debate over how to balance harm reduction, adult choice and youth protection in nicotine policy.