Why the FDA makes it easier to approve a cigarette than a vape | Guest column
January 12, 2026 by richmond.com
Why the FDA makes it easier to approve a cigarette than a vape | Guest column
Despite political debate, the most effective way to reduce tobacco-related disease is to help smokers switch to much less harmful alternatives. Instead, the FDA has imposed regulatory barriers that keep safer vaping products off the market. At the same time, traditional cigarettes remain widely available. These outdated regulations work against public health goals. As a result, smokers are denied access to tools that could help them quit and save lives.
