Smoking in United States of America
In the United States of America, smoking is allowed but tobacco products should follow some regulations. Under these regulations, health warnings on tobacco packaging including cigarettes are mandatory, the minimum legal age for their sales is 21 years, and there are no federal legal restrictions on smoking in public places. While tobacco advertising is regulated, not all forms of their advertising are banned. An excise tax of 32.16% with a total taxation rate of 37.36% is applied on cigarettes. Cigarettes can legally be sold with authorised documents. They may also be purchased through vending machines as well as through online channels. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate import license. Despite these control measures, prevalence data show that smoking remains an important public health issue in the United States. There were 39.8 million current smokers in the country in 2024. This represents an overall adult smoking prevalence of 14.1%, with higher prevalence among men (17.1%) than among women (11.1%). In comparison, the overall current smoking prevalence was 12.3% in 2022. The adult daily smoking prevalence was recorded to be 10.01% in 2020. Smoking-related mortality also remains significant in the country. In 2021, smoking resulted in 360,370 deaths, including 216,986 male deaths and 143,383 female deaths. This shows that smoking accounted for 10.38% of all deaths in the United States in 2021, with a higher rate among men (11.9%) than among women (8.7%).
July 18, 2023 by politico.com
FDA could thwart its own smoking-cessation push
The FDA is poised to finalize a rule banning menthol cigarettes — which make up nearly 40 percent of the market — in an effort to encourage smokers to quit. But it hasn’t approved a new smoking-cessation aid in nearly 20 years and has such high standards for authorizing less-harmful menthol e-cigarettes, some public health experts fear the ban may fall short of its desired effect. Not all menthol smokers will just quit, said David Méndez, associate professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan.
July 14, 2023 by Pharmchek
The Alarming Surge of Fentanyl-Laced Vapes: A Lethal Combination
In recent years, a dangerous trend has emerged in the realm of substance abuse: the proliferation of fentanyl-laced vapes. This lethal combination of the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl and electronic cigarettes has raised serious concerns among health experts, law enforcement agencies, and the general public.
July 14, 2023 by regulatorwatch.com
Greatest Threat | Orchestrated Campaign Tying Fentanyl to Nicotine Vapes | RegWatch
Over the past 18 months, a dangerous misinformation campaign has emerged, falsely linking nicotine vapes to fentanyl.
The media calls fentanyl-laced nicotine vapes an alarming trend that may be poisoning kids. A possibility that FDA Commissioner Robert Califf recently told Congress was likely only a matter of time.
July 14, 2023 by kpcw
Utah: Monday is deadline to submit comments on proposed increase of nicotine in e-cigarettes
A proposed settlement between the state of Utah and the Utah Vapor Business Association – the state lobbying association for the vaping industry - would allow the amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes sold in Utah to increase by 2%. Opponents of the settlement say Utahns need to stand up and protect the children.
July 12, 2023 by news-medical.net
Researchers receive $3.9 million grant to evaluate effects of e-cigarette flavors on smoking behaviors
A new grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow researchers with the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center to evaluate effects of e-cigarette flavors on the smoking behaviors of current adult smokers. The study [...] will be the first to provide definitive information about the impact of non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors for helping adult smokers stop smoking.
July 11, 2023 by fda.gov
FDA Denies Marketing of myblu Menthol E-Cigarette Product
[...] the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a marketing denial order (MDO) for myblu Menthol 2.4%, an e-cigarette product made by Fontem US, LLC (myblu). As a result, the company must not market or distribute this product in the United States, or they risk enforcement action by FDA. The company may resubmit a new application to address the deficiencies for the product subject to this MDO.
“Thorough scientific review of tobacco applications is a key pillar under FDA’s role to protect the public from the dangers of tobacco use,” said Matthew Farrelly, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Science within FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.
July 06, 2023 by sacobserver.com
E-Cigs Are Still Flooding the US, Addicting Teens With Higher Nicotine Doses
When the FDA first asserted the authority to regulate e-cigarettes in 2016, many people assumed the agency would quickly get rid of vapes with flavors like cotton candy, gummy bears, and Froot Loops that appeal to kids.
Instead, the FDA allowed all e-cigarettes already on the market to stay while their manufacturers applied for the OK to market them. Seven years later, vaping has ballooned into an $8.2 billion industry, and manufacturers are flooding the market with thousands of products — most sold illegally and without FDA permission — that can be far more addictive.
July 05, 2023 by None
The push for legal weed faces hostile ground in red states
Weed legalization advocates are running out of friendly territory. The movement has swept the country over the last decade: Nearly half of Americans now live in a state where anyone at least 21 years old can legally possess and purchase marijuana. Legal weed sales are slated to top $35 billion this year — and are expected to surpass $70 billion by 2030, according to New Frontier Data. Since December, five new recreational markets have launched, including New York, Missouri and Maryland, where sales began on Saturday. Those states alone added 37 million people to the legal weed column.
July 05, 2023 by reuters.com
US FTC drops Altria complaint after Marlboro-maker exits stake in Juul Labs
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday it dismissed a complaint against Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group (MO.N) and e-cigarette maker Juul Labs that was brought after Altria bought a 35% stake in Juul.
The agency also said it would vacate an FTC administrative law judge's decision in favor of the companies in February 2022. Since it has been vacated, it cannot be cited as precedent, the agency said in the statement announcing it was dropping the litigation.
July 03, 2023 by inquirer.com
E-cigarettes are still flooding the U.S., addicting teens with higher nicotine doses
When the FDA first asserted the authority to regulate e-cigarettes in 2016, many people assumed the agency would quickly get rid of vapes with flavors like cotton candy, gummy bears, and Froot Loops that appeal to kids.
Instead, the FDA allowed all e-cigarettes already on the market to stay while their manufacturers applied for the OK to market them.
Seven years later, vaping has ballooned into an $8.2 billion industry, and manufacturers are flooding the market with thousands of products — most sold illegally and without FDA permission — that can be far more addictive.