Stories

To combat counterfeiters, consumers are advised by the company to buy from trusted retailers. Nicotine pouch use has doubled since 2020. Consumers should watch out for signs of fake pouches like poor packaging, suspiciously low prices, inadequate labeling, and unknown manufacturers. Counterfeit pouches pose risks such as inaccurate nicotine levels and harmful ingredients. It is crucial to purchase from reliable sources, checking for proper labeling, batch numbers, and QR codes to ensure safety and authenticity amid the growing popularity of nicotine pouches in the UK.

A new overview of 14 systematic reviews suggests that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective for smoking cessation than traditional methods. The study highlights gaps in comparing e-cigarettes to newer aids and the need for global research on long-term safety. While e-cigarettes are effective for quitting, evidence on adverse events is inconclusive. The overview emphasizes the importance of high-quality data and urgent studies in low-income countries. Funding was provided by Cancer Research UK. The lead author stresses the consistent effectiveness of e-cigarettes in helping people quit smoking, despite mixed claims based on lower-quality reviews. The research aims to clarify the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation.

Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has ruled that advertising medical cannabis treatments violates national laws governing the promotion of medicinal products. The case focused on online platforms connecting patients with doctors, with the court determining that even general promotion of cannabis therapies can constitute prohibited advertising. The decision reinforces the classification of medical cannabis as a prescription-only medicine subject to strict pharmaceutical advertising rules. Industry representatives argue that the ruling may limit patients’ access to information about treatment options, particularly in a rapidly evolving digital healthcare environment. At the same time, the judgment highlights the tension between emerging cannabis business models and existing regulatory frameworks designed to protect consumers from misleading medical claims. The outcome could have broader implications for how medical cannabis services are marketed across Europe as regulators respond to the sector’s continued growth.

A growing debate is emerging over the true scale of the illicit tobacco market in the United Kingdom and how it should be measured. Critics argue that official estimates significantly underestimate the size of the black market, pointing to inconsistencies between declining legal sales and relatively stable smoking rates. Analysis suggests that sharp increases in tobacco taxes may be pushing more consumers toward illegal or untaxed products, particularly in recent years. The pandemic period is highlighted as a key moment when restrictions temporarily reduced access to illicit supply, leading to a short-term rise in legal sales. As normal conditions returned, legal sales dropped again, reinforcing arguments that the illicit market has been expanding rather than stabilizing. The discussion ultimately challenges the reliability of existing data and calls for a reassessment of how governments monitor and respond to illicit tobacco trade.

In this episode of the Science Series, Roberto Sussman breaks down why many lab studies on e‑cigarette emissions can’t be trusted—and how bad testing setups can create misleading “high toxin” results. He explains the “optimal regime” for vaping devices (power, resistance, airflow), why reproducibility requires full reporting of test conditions, and how unrealistic puffing machines can cause overheating and artificially inflate byproducts.

A comprehensive review of global evidence is reinforcing the role of nicotine e-cigarettes as an effective tool for smoking cessation. Drawing on multiple systematic reviews, findings consistently show higher quit rates among users of nicotine e-cigarettes compared to traditional therapies such as patches or gum. At the same time, gaps in the research remain, particularly in comparisons with other pharmacological treatments and in understanding long-term safety outcomes. While evidence on serious adverse effects is still inconclusive, the overall results challenge the perception that findings on e-cigarettes are mixed or uncertain. The discussion highlights the need for further high-quality studies, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to better inform future public health strategies.

A growing number of U.S. states, including New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington, are considering taxing nicotine pouches similar to tobacco products due to public health concerns and declining cigarette tax revenues. Supporters argue the tax would curb youth nicotine use, but critics fear it may discourage smokers from switching to safer alternatives. Washington State implemented a significant 95% excise tax on all nicotine products, impacting prices and revenue generation. This trend reflects a shift in state taxation policies towards alternative nicotine products as cigarette consumption declines. Nicotine pouch taxes are also being debated in Rhode Island, Oregon, Illinois, Nebraska, Maine, and Minnesota, reflecting a broader national movement towards regulating these products within existing tobacco tax frameworks.

Japan will implement the first phase of tax hikes on tobacco and corporate income from April 1 to raise funds for defense spending. The tax increases will continue in October and January 2027, aiming to generate ¥1.3 trillion ($8.2 billion) by that year. Philip Morris Japan and Japan Tobacco plan to raise prices on tobacco products. The government anticipates tobacco tax revenue to rise annually, reaching ¥212 billion ($1.3 billion) as further levies are enforced. This initiative supports Japan's defense budget, exceeding the 2% GDP target with over ¥9 trillion ($56.7 billion) allocated for fiscal 2026.

Smoking rates in the US hit a record low in 2024 as e-cigarette use rises, says the CDC. Cigarette smoking among adults dropped to nearly 10% from about 11% in 2023. The decline follows efforts to educate about smoking hazards since the Surgeon General's 1964 report. 7% of American adults used e-cigarettes in 2024, up from 6.5% in 2023 and nearly double than in 2020. E-cigarettes come with uncertainties about their harm compared to cigarettes. Factors like age, location, and mental health affect smoking and vaping habits, with concerns about e-cigarette companies targeting young users.

Canada’s cannabis market continues to expand, with total sales rising significantly alongside growth in licensed production space. Recent data show that extracts and edibles are gaining market share, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences away from traditional dried flower. This trend points to a maturing market where diversification of products is becoming a key driver of growth. At the same time, evolving demand is reshaping both retail strategies and regulatory considerations across the industry.