Stories

The Senate confirmed Dr. Martin Makary as the new FDA commissioner, overseeing vaping and tobacco products' regulation. Makary, a health policy expert and pancreatic surgeon from Johns Hopkins, supported FDA enforcement actions against illicit vaping products. His stance on flavored vaping remains unclear. The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, led by Brian King, has faced criticism for its strict enforcement approach. Makary's role will be crucial for Trump's promise to support flavored vaping. The question remains if he will challenge the current anti-vaping stance at the FDA.

Chile's latest vaping bill has been met with cautious optimism from consumer advocates - but what does it actually contain? Ignacio Leiva joins us to elaborate on Chile's regulatory makeover, and what this means for vapers in the country!

Nicotine doesn’t cause cancer—yet safer nicotine products like vapes and pouches remain under relentless attack. This, despite the role these products play in driving smoking rates to historic lows across the Western world. Why is the war on smoking turning into a war on nicotine? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Foulds, Professor of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at Penn State University, joins us to unpack the contradictions at the heart of public health’s approach to nicotine.

The IEA paper discusses resistance to practical solutions due to political ideologies, focusing on harm reduction methods like nicotine pouches facing opposition, even from anti-smoking organizations. The report emphasizes the need for evidence-based policies over political biases to promote public health benefits. Media sensationalism and misinformation perpetuate unfounded fears around harm reduction products. The example of Sweden's success with snus and nicotine pouches highlights the potential benefits of evidence-driven approaches. Policymakers are urged to prioritize scientific evidence to support innovations in harm reduction and smoking cessation for a healthier future.

Are vaping studies destined to fail? Research on e-cigarette health effects often includes former smokers—skewing results and misleading the public. Dr. Arielle Selya explores why flawed study designs, academic incentives, and NIH funding pressures shape the science on vaping and tobacco harm reduction.

This commentary analyzes Australia’s increasingly strict nicotine regulations, likening them to a de facto War on Nicotine. While traditional tobacco control measures have successfully reduced smoking rates, recent policies—such as higher tobacco taxes and a vape ban—have unintentionally fueled a growing black market. This has led to increased criminal activity, systemic violence, and health risks from unregulated nicotine products. The paper argues that Australia’s current approach may be causing more harm than good, similar to the unintended effects of drug prohibition. It advocates for a shift toward harm reduction, tax reforms, and improved access to safer nicotine alternatives for a more effective policy.

The government plans to increase prices of luxury cigarettes to reduce consumption, combating the rise in sales following a tax hike on lower-tier cigarettes. Revenue from cigarettes has surged in February. Suggestions to combat tobacco use and smuggling were discussed at a recent meeting. The proposal to amend tobacco laws was supported, but discussions involving tobacco companies were debated due to WHO guidelines. The ban on e-cigarettes has not curbed their availability, with proposals to regulate their use to prevent revenue loss. Philip Morris applied to produce e-cigarettes in Bangladesh.

Three U.S. representatives urge Trump administration to address illegal Chinese e-cigarette smuggling, impacting American public health and youth vaping. Despite existing federal task forces, they advocate for stronger enforcement actions, emphasizing the need to seize unauthorized products. The congressmen highlight the contradiction of China banning flavored e-cigarettes domestically while exporting them globally. Recent seizures in Miami raised concerns about the safety and prevalence of these products, originating from China. The letter calls for utilizing all available enforcement tools to combat illicit vape sales in the U.S., stressing the urgency to protect public health.

Unregulated nicotine pouches are concerning Australia's youth, despite being illegal. The influx is worrying doctors due to potential health risks and lack of regulation. The products have been seized, but their contents and safety remain unknown. Specialists caution against the use of these pouches for smoking cessation and highlight the importance of safer alternatives like patches or behavioral support. While many young users find the pouches unpleasant, addiction can lead to more harmful habits. The long-term effects of these products are uncertain, underscoring the need for caution and informed choices in addressing nicotine dependency.

Thailand launched a crackdown on nicotine vapes due to youth vaping fears and police corruption concerns. Despite severe penalties for possession or selling vapes, police raids and website shutdowns persist. Efforts to combat illicit sales have expanded to target regular citizens, sparking debate on legalization. A newly formed committee suggests policy changes to parliament, with hopes to lift the vaping ban. Advocates stress the importance of regulating vapes with age restrictions for consumer safety. Reports of police corruption and exaggerated media coverage fuel the ongoing debate on Thailand's vaping policies. With 81,000 vapers in Thailand, there is optimism for a more balanced approach to tobacco harm reduction.