Tobacco and Cigarettes Shopping Guide

Llaws against smoking in cars

2012-02-08T13:11:00.001+02:00

Health campaigners in Wales are trying to persuade people not to smoke in cars when there are children on board. If that doesn't work, the Welsh government will bring in the law.

In general, I prefer persuasion to regulation. We have too many laws, rather than too few. Where the protection of children is concerned, however, I am on the side of this law.

I used to be a member of the board of FOREST, the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco. I have spoken on radio and television against ASH, Action on Smoking and Health. I don't like health fascism. I rebel against people trying to force me to do things for my own good.

I believe that people should have the right to smoke and that they have the right to pay, out of their own pockets, for the medical consequences. I do not believe that they have the right to expect others to pay for their care.

As a libertarian, I would like to see government much less involved in health and education. I want individuals to be much more responsible, where possible, for themselves and for their families in these important areas of life.

In those circumstances, cigarette smokers, heavy drinkers and recreational drug users might think more than twice if they have to pay for the damage they cause to themselves and to others (if they can count that far when they are under the influence of their various drugs).

But I acknowledge, as maybe the Welsh legislators do not, that the law is a very blunt instrument. How widely should it be applied?

I have climbed along Crib Goch in Snowdonia in the winter. I was one of the first pot-holers in the Breckon Beacons. I have sung English songs in pubs in rural Cardiganshire. I have played rugby. These are all highly risky pursuits. Am I to be prevented from following these personal idiosyncrasies?

But, if I were to have young children strapped to my back, the situation would be different. They would have no say in the risks I was taking with their lives as well as mine.

In a confined space, such as in a car, children have no choice over the smoke-polluted air that they breathe. That is wrong. But how on earth can it be policed? And what would be the next law that health fascists would demand for our own good and to protect the sacred cow of the profligate NHS budget?

I fear governments far more than I fear any health risk. I shall fight to protect children and people who have no capacity to care for themselves. But that's as far as I am prepared to go along the road to George Orwell's 'Wigan pier', let alone towards the totalitarian nightmare of his '1984'.

Health Department Offers Smoking Cessation Classes

2012-02-08T13:10:00.002+02:00

It’s the second month of the year and it’s an important one for keeping your New Year’s resolutions. For many people their goal is to quit smoking. To help, the Health Department is offering tobacco cessation classes that are free to the public.

There is no other way of saying it; smoking is bad for your health. New information on its effects are revealed on a regular basis. Just recently, a study was released that showed that smoking may lead to a mental decline in men. This latest information only adds to the mountain of medical evidence that says smoking is not only bad for you; it can shorten your life as well.

“Evidence shows that smoking can cause harm to every single organ in the body,” said Traci Lambson, Health Education Specialist for the Health Department. “Commonly, you hear of lung cancer, heart disease, oral cancer, but those are some of the long term consequences. There are some short term consequences as far as the costs, shortness of breath, bad breath yellow teeth, and yellow fingernails.”

Smoking is an issue of public health and on top of that, it’s very addicting. Because of this, the Health Department is working with smokers by offering a series of classes to help them quit.

“The advantages of going through a program is if a person couples any type of community class or individual tobacco cessation consultation with nicotine replacement therapy, they are going to double their chances of succeeding to quit,” said Lambson.

Nearly 90 percent of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking. Women who smoke have a greater chance of pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death syndrome. However, if you can find a way to quit, you will reduce the risk and the benefit is even greater the earlier quit.

Another reason why you might want to consider quitting with the help of the Health Department is that they can help you find some free products, like patches and gum that can make it much easier on you. You can find tips to help you quit at this link.

Social Media Is More Addictive Than Smoking

2012-02-08T13:09:00.001+02:00

You may be craving a cigarette break or after work drink, but the allure of Facebook and Twitter is even harder to ignore. A new study shows that texting and social media are more difficult to resist than having another beer or mid-day smoke.
To examine our inability to resist our constant cravings, researchers from the University of Chicago outfitted 205 subjects with Blackberrys. For seven days, the researchers messaged the volunteers to ask them about their urges within the past 30 minutes—what kind of desire they experienced, how strong it was and whether they were they able to resist.

The results provided a snapshot of what many of us feel each day. Fighting the urge to log into Facebook or send another tweet is often a losing battle. “Resisting the desire to work was likewise prone to fail,” Wilhelm Hofmann, the lead researcher told the Guardian. “In contrast, people were relatively successful at resisting sports inclinations, sexual urges and spending impulses, which seems surprising given the salience in modern culture of disastrous failures to control sexual impulses and urges to spend money.”

The addictive nature of social media may be the result of its “high availability,” say the researchers. In addition, with addictive substances such as alcohol and tobacco, there’s a clear message about the negative impacts on your health and wallet. That’s not as apparent with Facebook or Twitter.
The researchers also found that “as a day wears on, willpower becomes lower and self-control efforts are more likely to fail.”

So if you want to stop posting about the latest episode of CSI when you should be sleeping, you might need to lock up your phone and computer.

Debates On for In-car Anti-smoking Laws

2012-02-08T13:03:00.002+02:00

As per recent reports, it has been revealed that Wales Health campaigners are laboring over persuading the massed for avoiding smoking when in cars, especially while there are kids on board. If it fails to work out, then there are possibilities that the Welsh Government will have to come up with some sort of anti-smoking laws for in-car travelers.

In this regard, a Cumbria-wide crusade was instigated earlier during July 2011, which was reportedly inspired by reports reaped from a survey of more than 713 smokers as well as non-smokers from all over the region. During the course of the survey conducted to find out the public view on account of smoking ban, it was revealed that the concept of the ban got a fairly overwhelming shore up for the participants of the survey.

In excess of 73% of particulates included in the survey claimed that they are in favor of the concept that Cumbria must come up with some sort of strategy for safeguarding adults less than 18 years of age from the negative and life-threatening consequences of smoking while in cars.

On the other hand, in excess of 92% of the people expressed their consent on the point that kids have a right for not being forced into exposed with secondhand smoke while they are in enclosed spaces, such as those in the likes of malls, colleges and cars, of course.

While expressing his opinion regarding the entire issue, along with explaining what all pros and cons lie behind the application of laws against smoking in cars, a member of the Cumbria Tobacco Alliance and NHS Cumbria’s public health specialist, Su Sear, claimed, “We ask that parents and adults just don’t smoke in their cars at all. Even if a child isn’t present every time they drive, tobacco smoke can linger on furniture and clothes and can still cause harm”.

California Assembly votes to outlaw smoking on hospital campuses

2012-01-31T14:37:00.001+02:00

Californians may soon be adding hospital campuses to the list of smoke-free workplaces.

The Assembly passed a bill Monday that would expand current limits on smoking at hospitals to entire campuses. Existing law makes it illegal to smoke in buildings and areas adjacent to entrances. Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) argued that the legislation would not only encourage patients, visitors and employees to quit the habit but protect people against exposure to secondhand smoke.

The bill drew the ire of Republicans who said it was another example of California's "nanny state" politics. Many hospitals, they said, have already voluntarily banned smoking.

"California is one of the least-free states in the union," said Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills).

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-San Bernardino) said that although he appreciated the health risks of smoking, the bill went too far. "You want to ban smoking outside," he said. "The last thing California needs is another law for the rest of the country to make fun of us."

The measure, AB 1278, passed, 45-23. It now heads to the state Senate.

Last year, lawmakers tried and failed to widen the state's smoke-free workplace laws by removing exemptions that allow smoking in certain areas of hotel lobbies, meeting and banquet rooms, warehouses, break rooms and at many businesses with five or fewer employees. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly.

400 children in Lincolnshire given help to quit smoking

2012-01-31T14:29:00.001+02:00

HUNDREDS of children in Lincolnshire have tried to get help to quit smoking in less than a year, according to new figures.

The Phoenix Stop Smoking Service has been approached by nearly 400 youngsters aged under 16 since April last year.
And service manager Gary Burroughs believes this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to children smoking in the county.

He said: "This is a good start, but we need a lot more young people to come in and chose to quit smoking.

"Of those 400, only about a quarter of them actually quit."

Phoenix has joined forces with the Lincolnshire County Council-led Smokefree Lincs Alliance to try and give children advice about the hazards of lighting up.

Mr Burroughs added: "The important thing is to stop young people from starting smoking in the first place."

The young persons' smoking service was set up in late 2009, but before that the only help Phoenix could give was to try and change children's behaviour.

Now it can offer patches as well as guidance to under 16s.

Together with Phoenix, the Smokefree Lincs Alliance will develop a youth service that is tailored to the specific needs of young people.

Ros Watson, Smokefree Lincs co-ordinator, said that young people may not even consider themselves as smokers and therefore do not feel like they need help quitting.

She said: "If they are only smoking one or two a week then they are less likely to recognise that they are becoming addicted to the nicotine."

Pro-smoking lobby launches campaign against plain tobacco packaging

2012-01-31T14:22:00.001+02:00

The smokers’ lobby group Forest has launched a website that gives opponents of plain packaging of tobacco the opportunity to petition the government when it begins a UK-wide public consultation on the issue in the spring.
The petition, says Forest, is in response to Plain Packs Protect, a campaign launched in January by an alliance of tobacco control groups including Smokefree South West and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: “Public consultations on tobacco control are effectively public sector consultations. Thousands of public workers are deployed to persuade MPs that there is overwhelming support for the latest tobacco control initiative.
“All over the country groups funded by the taxpayer will be gathering signatures or signing their own petitions. We want to give opponents of pointless regulation the voice they are often denied.
“The Hands Off Our Packs website and petition will give ordinary consumers the chance to have their say as well.”
Clark added: “Stephen Williams MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health, has challenged us to ‘rise to the debate’. We are delighted to accept the challenge and look forward to sharing a platform with Mr Williams and other advocates of plain packaging in the very near future.”
The Hands Off Our Packs campaign will be launched next month. It will be run and managed by Forest which is supported by British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Limited and Gallaher Limited (a member of the Japan Tobacco Group).

San Francisco medical marijuana licensing program resumes

2012-01-31T14:20:00.001+02:00

San Francisco's medical cannabis dispensary program resumed licensing and inspecting medical marijuana collectives, Department of Public Health officials announced Monday. The move comes after the agency said last week that the application process was suspended.

Under clarified rules, existing dispensaries must sign a statement swearing that all medical marijuana sold on-site is cultivated in California and comes from a grower who is a member of the dispensary's nonprofit collective.

The health department is responsible for inspecting and permitting The City's 21 existing medical marijuana businesses and accepting applications for new clubs. New applications stopped being processed in December following a ruling in a state appeals court. In that case, Pack vs. the City of Long Beach, the court ruled that California cities violated federal law by regulating and permitting medical marijuana.

That ruling was vacated when the California Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal, and San Francisco’s city attorney gave the health department the green light to resume its program Jan. 20, but the department had announced last week that all applications were still on hold indefinitely.

Despite reviving the licensing and inspection program, some changes were made.

Several types of medical marijuana-laced food produced by companies outside San Francisco and sold at many dispensaries throughout the Bay Area are now banned at city dispensaries, according to a memo issued by Larry Kessler, a senior inspector at the health department who runs the dispensary program.

Dispensaries also "may not sell or distribute medical cannabis or medical cannabis products produced by commercial enterprises or by another collective/cooperative," Kessler wrote.

San Francisco became the first city in California to license dispensaries when the Board of Supervisors passed the Medical Cannabis Act in 2005.

The city currently has 21 such businesses, down from 26 a year ago. Sine November, five have closed after receiving warning letters from Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for Northern California.

The City’s Planning Department is expected to hear two applications for new dispensaries in the Excelsior district at its Feb. 16 meeting, including one that submitted its application more than a year ago.

Police shut down last medical marijuana storefront

2012-01-31T14:05:00.001+02:00

Los Angeles police say three people were arrested during the closure of the last remaining medical marijuana storefront in the Chatsworth area.

LAPD Devonshire Division narcotics officers served a search warrant Monday afternoon at the Herbal Medicine Care facility on Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Police say an extensive investigation into criminal conduct at the storefront provided detectives with probable cause to serve the warrant and close down the business.

Police say three people were arrested for investigation of possession of marijuana for sale. More than 50 pounds of marijuana and more than $6,000 in cash were seized along with the store's medical records.

There were once more than 60 medical marijuana stores in the Devonshire Division, but police say all have been shut down because of illegal activity.

Tobacco Outlet Cigars Helps Clear the Air

2012-01-23T13:36:00.001+02:00

The owner of new retailer, Tobacco Outlet is skeptical of why the government consistently raises fines, taxes and inspections every year under the premise of protecting the public. Recently the Alberta government has stated that it would like to raise "sin taxes" by as much as $2 per pack. Politicians are quick to justify the fact that these practices are aimed at reducing smoking, however as a store owner, he explains that his business actually increased after some of the rule changes.

The owner (a non-smoker himself) speculates that while there are some legitimate attempts to curb the habit, most rule changes appear to be made to appease anti-smoking voters while still collecting taxes. He feels that the government's addiction to increasing revenues is becoming a worse problem than the issues they are claiming to fight against (i.e. gambling, tobacco, speeding, DUI's) and while these are valid issues too, the government needs to build some credibility.

Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that each year selling tobacco has become more complex and risky for retailers. Holding inventories of several thousands of dollars (the majority of which is actually owed to the government in tobacco, sales and business taxes), while at the same time taking responsibility for upholding numerous laws is becoming much more difficult. Each increase or new law presents a challenge for retailers to explain to customers that the product they wanted would cost more yet again, and perhaps even became illegal. Many changes resulted in retailers having to throw away thousands of dollars of tobacco products that did not agree with revised laws. Normally such products would be returned to the distributors, but the changes put those companies out of business.

Seeing the increased complexity of regulations and cost of inventory despite a higher demand from consumers each year, he decided to create a store that can focus on tobacco alone. In recent years convenience stores have tended to sell cigarettes and the cigar stores focus simply on the connoisseur. Tobacco Outlet was created to serve all smokers to provide a store that could focus on following rules and regulations and provide a convenient store that would allow consenting, informed adults the ability to see the products. Staff are trained not only on product information, but on strict government rules and regulations that must be followed. A convenience store on the other hand has to train staff on dozens of areas, thus making it hard to focus on proper tobacco controls.

Tobacco Outlet understands that healthy living should be promoted, but not forced upon. As well, people's vices should not be preyed upon. Business owners are currently caught selling a legal product to informed willing adults but taxed by governments and often harassed by overzealous inspectors. Business owners would like to see some more legitimate actions that truly protect people without infringing on their rights to free speech or individuals' ability to make their own decisions. Tobacco Outlet would simply like to raise the issue of over-taxation and over-regulation.

Mike Strantz's Utterly Unique Tobacco Road

2012-01-23T13:30:00.002+02:00

Playing Tobacco Road Golf Club during its grand-opening round with architect Mike Strantz more than a decade ago now, I hit what I thought was a horrible drive on No. 15, striking it some 50 yards off-line to the right. As I cussed my way off the tee, Strantz interrupted my tirade with a "that's perfect" utterance.
I turned and laughed, and spewed yet another profanity toward the Carolina Blue sky.

Unsuspecting to me, the hole turned out to be a split fairway, parted by one of a number of sandy graves placed throughout the course on land that was once a productive sand quarry used to build roads and baseball fields across North Carolina.

My golf ball was indeed in the short grass. I knew it well before that hole on a golf layout that will literally "scare you straight," but it was a poignant moment and one where I realized what Strantz created in 1998 was, to use a baseball term, "out of left field."

There is some debate as to just how many blind shots golfers face at Tobacco Road. My tally is 10 of the 18 approach shots, and that doesn't count the two tobacco smokestacks used as aiming tools on your drives at Nos. 16 and 18. There are also five bells to ring for the "all clear" sign and several 10-foot-high flags as players stretch their necks at times to see where to aim.

And did I mention the 33 wooden steps you must descend to a vast sand pit if you try to go for the green (now 40 feet above you) in two on the par-5 11th hole - and come up short?

Tobacco Road is a crew-cut haircut by today's distance standards, the par-71 course measuring just 6,532 yards from the "Ripper" tees, named after a metal tool used back in the day to till and break up hard soil for cultivating tobacco. But with a 150 Slope rating from the tips, it's beyond a James Bond thriller.
Tobacco Road quickly overcame its original "goofy golf" label and has thrived to the tune of 35,000 rounds a year as the fun alternative to a round of traditional golf in the Pinehurst area, one of the world's golfing Meccas that's located about 25 miles south of the Strantz layout.

Tobacco Road has been so successful in holding golfers' interest it now demands $134 for a weekend round from March 19 to May 6 as its reputation among "Snowbirds" has grown quicker than a tobacco plant in Carolina's August heat.

"We were just excited as it progressed because we could see what Mike (Strantz) had seen all along," said Mark Stewart, who co-owns the upscale public course with brother-in-law Tony Woodell. "It was visually stimulating and we figured it would attract interest and play. And we wanted a course that would be marketable.

"Most golfers feel like they can design a golf course and . . . think it is easy, but you have to be able to sell it to the public. It was so unique and dramatic we knew it would photograph well. What do they say; a picture is worth a thousand words."

Much of the successful marketing of Tobacco Road has been orchestrated by director of golf Joe Gay, a former N.C. State University standout golfer who has been at the Sanford course since Day One.

Foster City Flunks Key Tobacco Prevention Test

2012-01-23T13:12:00.002+02:00

Foster City’s efforts to protect its citizenry from the ravages of tobacco over the past year have been inadequate, a leading health organization says.

The American Lung Association gave Foster City an “F” grade in an annual report released on Thursday.

The national study measures how well local governments provide smoke-free environments outdoors, in apartment rentals, as well as their effectiveness reducing tobacco sales.

Foster City flunked all three categories.

The study was released in advance of the California Cancer Research Act, an ALA-backed measure that will appear on the June ballot.

The CCRA would increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1.00 per pack, putting those revenues towards the treatment, prevention and, ultimately, cures for lung disease, heart disease, strokes, cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses.

The CCRA also would triple state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts.

Foster City isn’t the Peninsula’s only tobacco prevention deadbeat named in the report.

The 20 Peninsula cities and the unincorporated area governed by the county combined for a 0.57 GPA.

Also receiving F grades were Atherton, Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Portola Valley, San Bruno, South City and Woodside.

The ALA gave just one Peninsula city a B grade (Belmont) and two got C’s (Menlo Park and Pacifica).

Burlingame, Redwood City, San Mateo and the unincorporated areas got D’s.

Albany, Richmond, and Union City were the only Bay Area cities and among just 12 municipalities in the state to receive A grades

California, once a leader in promoting antismoking laws, got F grades for failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services, and a D for its low cigarette tax.

California currently ranks 33rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for its $0.87 per-pack tax, far below the $1.46 national average.

The lone bright spot for California was an A grade for smoke-free air policies.

The low grades at local and state levels as state point to the need for California to pass the CCRA, ALA in California President and CEO Jane Warner said in a prepared statement.

The American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association have endorsed the CCRA.

“Now is the time for California to raise the grade,” Warner said.

“The California Cancer Research Act is an historic opportunity for California voters to provide more than $855 million annually to fund research for cancer and other tobacco-related diseases as well as proven tobacco prevention, education, and law enforcement efforts which will prevent 228,700 kids in California from becoming addicted smokers.”

Quitting smoking cold turkey just as effective as using the patch

2012-01-16T14:34:00.002+02:00

Saving money is one of the more popular spurs to quit smoking, but with nicotine patches and gum lumped into pricey kick-the-habit programs (hell, they even have hypnotism these days), the quitting can be pretty expensive itself. As it turns out, nicotine patches don't actually help smokers much at all, and quitting cold turkey is just as effective.

That old smoker's joke — "quitting's easy; I've done it tons of times" — has particular relevance in a sample of 787 adults who had quit smoking two years previous and were checked in with twice during that time. The first time, 30.6 percent has relapsed. The second time, 31.6 percent had.

The kicker: ex-smokers using the gum and nicotine patches were just as likely to cease their expensive habit than those who had quit cold turkey (which means simply tossing your smokes into the trash and dealing with some less-than-fantastic feelings for a while).

Tobacco Control, a journal, published these results, which conflict with results published previously by the Food and Drug Administration. That study showed that folks are three times more likely to kick smoking with a stylish patch than they are with nothing but the power of human will.

But the majority of real-world studies show these smoking cessation aids are not helpful and often times can actually be detrimental to quitting.

Wrote the researchers: "This may indicate that some heavily dependent smokers perceive NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] as a sort of 'magic' pill, and upon realizing it is not, they find themselves without support in their quitting efforts, doomed to failure."

Since Americans spend $1.5 billion — yeah, with a "b" — on smoking cessation products every year, and a good chunk of that particular change comes from public health programs, this study has more impact than simply can neighbor Bob quit ruining your porch-sitting time with his cigs.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the cleverly named company that makes Nicorette, Nicoderm and Commit lozenges said most adults in the study didn't use the products for eight weeks, as directed (and that following directions is important).

Said the company, "Hundreds of clinical trials involving more than 35,000 participants and extensive consumer use for more than 20 years have proven both the efficacy and safety of NRT when used as directed."

In the end, though, smokers wanting to quit one of the most addictive substances in the world need to do whatever works for them. So if you're thinking of kicking that habit to the curb, then good luck to you.

Just remember, it won't be easy, whatever method you choose.

Harper urges Canadians to quit smoking

2012-01-16T14:23:00.001+02:00

National Non-Smoking Week began Sunday, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement encouraging smokers to make a resolution "to quit the habit both for themselves and for their loved ones.

"Every year smoking adversely impacts the health of millions of Canadians - including those affected by second-hand smoke - heightening their risk of cancer, heart disease, emphysema and a number of other conditions. It also costs our healthcare system - and therefore taxpayers - a substantial amount of money" Harper said in the statement released Sunday.

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA) also took the opportunity to remind Ontarians that eligible patients who want to stop smoking can receive free counselling at many of the province's pharmacies.

According to Health Canada, our government invests $15.8 million annually to help people stop smoking, prevent youth from starting to smoke, and protect Canadians from exposure to second-hand smoke. It says Canada has one of the lowest smoking rates in the world, but that tobacco use is still the most significant cause of preventable disease, disability, and premature death in Canada, and is responsible for more than 37,000 deaths every year.

Smoking soon to be banned on all Seminole school property

2012-01-16T13:49:00.002+02:00

Smoking will be outlawed on all Seminole school district property, both inside and out, under a tough new anti-smoking policy the School Board plans to adopt.

Seminole school district employees won't be allowed to step outside to smoke, and fans at football games will be prohibited from lighting up, as well.
Better health for smokers and bystanders is the goal of the new policy, which would take effect July 1, officials say.

"It certainly is beneficial to the employees not to smoke," Deputy Superintendent George Kosmac said. "But people complained about second hand smoke, and that is the real motivator."

While smoking inside Seminole school district buildings and vehicles has been prohibited for years, employees and other adults were permitted to smoke outside in designated areas. But the state Legislature changed the law last year to let school districts ban smoking outside, too, School Board Attorney Ned Julian said.

Despite confusion over a school board's legal authority, Lake initiated a full ban in 2000 at the insistence of School Board member Kyleen Fischer.

And the Orange County School Board recently updated its smoking policy to a full ban as well, although spokeswoman Shari Bobinski said it largely had been in effect for years. A main effort of the recent revisions was to prohibit smoking outside the school district office in downtown Orlando, she said.

Although there is no exact count, in Seminole the number of school district employees who smoke has fallen in recent years, Deputy Superintendent Kosmac indicated. He estimated there might be only 10 smokers among the more than 250 employees in the school district headquarters on Lake Mary Boulevard in Sanford. Other smokers are scattered in schools and other school system work locations throughout the county.

David Apfelbaum, director of risk management for Seminole schools, said smokers will be encouraged to sign up for smoking cessation programs available through the district. They will have access to chewing gum, nicotine patches and low-cost prescription drugs to help them overcome the habit.

Tony Gentile, director of the school system's employee unions, said he personally does not favor smoking. But he expects objections to the new policy, which will come up for School Board approval later this winter.

Scientists design a safer cigarette

2012-01-05T14:33:00.001+02:00

In a study published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments, scientists from Cornell University designed a filter made with lycopene and grape seed extract. These natural antioxidants reduce the amount of free radicals inhaled during cigarette smoking.

While tobacco tars and other ingredients in cigarettes are the major causes of carcinogens and disease, free radicals produced and inhaled during smoking attack cells, damaging protein structure and increasing the risk of a person developing lung cancer. Reducing the number of free radicals therefore could make cigarettes a bit safer.

Filters that work in similar ways have already been studied, but because they can be expensive to produce they have not been adopted by cigarette manufactures. The advantages of using antioxidants such as lycopene and grape seed extract is that they’re cheaper to produce.

Unfortunately, scientists also noticed the filters made out of the antioxidants lost much of their efficacy after a week in storage at room temperature.

Local man charged in cigarette trafficking operation

2012-01-05T14:32:00.002+02:00

A 48-year-old man from Hollywood, SC was charged in federal court for conspiracy to
traffic contraband cigarettes.

Nathaniel Elmore along with 41-year-old William Helton of Commack, NY and 41-year-old Charley Antonio Davis Jr of Bishopville, SC were charged in a 23 count indictment with conspiracy to traffic contraband cigarettes and money laundering.

Prosecutors claim that the three men were involved in a scheme to purchase millions of dollars in cigarettes in South Carolina and then resell the cigarettes in other states without paying applicable taxes.

United States Attorney Bill Nettles said the maximum penalty the men face for the charges is ten years imprisonment.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service.

Cigarettes and alcohol stolen from Devon safe

2012-01-05T14:31:00.000+02:00

Police said they believed intruders had entered by cutting holes in the office roof of the Kilmington Garage, near Axminster.

One safe was cut open and part of an external wall demolished next to another, police added.

The incident happened between 03:00 and 04:00 GMT on Tuesday morning. Police are appealing for information.

A stolen vehicle, a Ford Focus, was found nearby with a quantity of stolen cigarettes inside, a police spokesperson said.

They added that they were unsure how the intruders cut holes in the roof, broke open the safe or part demolished the wall.

E Cigarettes Get a Thumbs up from the NZ Health Ministry

2012-01-05T14:30:00.001+02:00

Electronic cigarettes are steadily gaining acceptance as a healthier smoking alternative to tobacco cigarettes by authorities all across the world; and the latest one to join the league of such authorities is the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

The revelation was made recently when the official announcement from the New Zealand Ministry of Health came that it “recommends electronic cigarettes as a healthier alternative to tobacco.” The electronic smoking community is enthralled at this development since their most favored e cigarettes have now gained acceptance as a health-friendly smoking option by yet another country’s government.

For those living in the New Zealand, this news means a lot as the smokers can now enjoy the privilege to smoke anywhere and anywhere without being frowned upon. At the same time, they can smoke without the guilt of ruining their own as well their loved ones’ health while indulging in their smoking mode. The sentiment is echoed in a local resident, Jenny’s excitement over the news. “I am happy beyond expression. It’s like getting an official stamp to my favorite cigarettes….I never felt so free while smoking as I do now.” Another e cigarette reviews fan joined in to share his views and added how he could now “flaunt e-cigs telling everyone in the face that I am smart enough to care for myself as well as the environment.”

Interestingly, electric cigarettes are not just human-health friendly, but are harmless for the environment too. These do not contain carcinogens or emit offensive smoke. Instead e cigarettes emit pure vapors from combustion of nicotine mixed with vegetable glycerin. The fact that an e-smoker gets to enjoy pure nicotine vapor without falling prey to any hazards at all weighs tremendously in the favor of e cigs.

Comparison of e cigs with traditional cigarettes is obvious since the former are modeled on and developed as a better version of their traditional counterparts. “Smoking an entire cartridge of e cigarettes is over 500 times better for the health than smoking one traditional cigarette” informed Prof. Siegel, an MD from the Chicago University in order to assert the point.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has been prudent enough to recognize and spread to its people the benefits of smoking the best electronic cigarette over the regular ones in time. It is speculated that many more countries would soon follow this suit set up by some of the well developed and leading nations of the world.

FDA Flap Could Snuff Out Smokeless Growth At Altria

2012-01-05T14:27:00.001+02:00

Smokeless tobacco products have come under fire after a report by key advisory to Food and Drug Administration alleged that tobacco companies do not have sufficient scientific evidence to prove they are less harmful to health than cigarettes. [1] This can be detrimental for Altria Group as smokeless tobacco is the only segment that has been growing for the company in the past several quarters. The competes with Reynolds American and Lorillard, two of its biggest competitors in the U.S.

See our complete analysis of Altria stock here

Tobacco Companies Claim Otherwise

Tobacco companies claim the smokeless products are less harmful than cigarettes since they do not release carcinogens through combustion. In fact, Reynolds American attempted to get the warning label for smokeless products to change to “No tobacco product is safe, but this product presents substantially lower risks to health than cigarettes.” Currently, the warning reads “This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.” [1] The report advises FDA to approve third party bodies which can independently research on the effects of smokeless tobacco products.

So Far So Good

The sales of smokeless products grew by 14% in 2010 and is expected to grow by 9% this year. Since they are smoke-free, their usage is not restricted only to smoking zones. These are also a hit with the retailers as they enjoy margins as high as 30%. [2] Altria operates in the smokeless tobacco segment through Copenhagen, Skoal and Red Seal.

As per our estimates, smokeless tobacco products constitute 15% of Altria’s stock price while cigarettes constitute 73%.

Cigarette consumption is on a decline in the U.S. as tobacco companies are left with no option but to pass on the tax increases to consumers. Smokeless tobacco products is the segment that offers a significant growth potential for Altria. We expect the size of smokeless products to grow at an annual rate of 7% over the next few years.

Life after cigarettes is happier

2011-12-20T16:42:00.001+02:00

"Quitting is hard, but if you can actually do it, there are a lot of benefits that you might not have thought about," said study author Megan E. Piper.

"If you thought you'd have more stress, that quitting would put more stress on your relationships, or that you'll feel worse forever, that isn't the case," said Piper, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and its Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.

The findings don't make specify how much of a difference quitting makes in percentage terms. Still, they show a definite gain, she said. Three years after stopping, study participants who had quit reported fewer stressors and improved mood compared to those who continued smoking.

Piper said she and her colleagues wanted to see if they could confirm assumptions about smokers feeling better after they quit and "put some science behind what everybody thinks is true."

Quality of life

One way to do that is to look at how people describe their quality of life. That's tricky, Piper said, since quality of life tends to decline as people age. Even so, the researchers figured they could examine trends over time by comparing people who kept smoking to those who quit.

The study authors looked at the results of surveys of 1 504 people from Wisconsin, 58% women, 84% white - who took part in a smoking cessation study that began between 2005 and 2007. Participants were assigned to one of six groups, some of them using a nicotine patch, nicotine lozenges, the drug bupropion, a combination of those aids or a placebo. All also received counseling to help them quit.

Researchers followed the participants for three years and tested their blood to see if they had actually quit. They also asked about self-regard, standard of living, relationships, friendships and other measures of quality of life.

National report shows decreasing teenage use of alcohol, cigarettes

2011-12-20T16:41:00.000+02:00

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Thursday that a new report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse showing increasing youth consumption of marijuana should be a cause of concern for Coloradans.
According to the 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey, teen marijuana use has increased, most notably among 10th and 12th graders. Among 12th graders, 36.4 percent of those surveyed reported that they had used marijuana at least once within the previous year, up from 34.8 percent in 2010. The 10th graders surveyed also reported a similar increase in use with 28.8 percent of those surveyed reported that they had used marijuana at least once within the previous year, up from 27.5 percent in 2010.
These results tracked parallel to both 10th and 12th graders reporting a lower perception of risk associated with marijuana use. Both demographics reported less perception of risk associated with using marijuana once or twice, smoking marijuana occasionally and smoking marijuana regularly. There is a clear relationship between teenage marijuana use and teens' perception of risk. As the perception of risk of the drug decreases, marijuana use increases.
"These trends are especially concerning given the research on the effects of marijuana use on the teenage brain," Suthers said. "The increasing accessibility and acceptability of marijuana for teenagers in Colorado should be of concern to all of us."

Marijuana found in charcoal load at Arizona border

2011-12-20T16:34:00.001+02:00

Federal officers seized more than a half-million dollars worth of marijuana hidden in a load of charcoal last week.
Last Friday, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Cargo facility in Nogales randomly selected a tractor trailer for a non-intrusive inspection.
A narcotics canine was alerted to the presence of drugs inside the shipment, according to CBP.
The truck was off loaded and officers found a false compartment in the front wall which contained 87 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 1,000 pounds.
The 28-year-old Mexican male driver was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.

Texas Reduces Amount Allocated To Tobacco Prevention Programmee

2011-12-12T14:59:00.001+02:00

Texas is one of the places in the US where children get into smoking from a very tender age, say about 14 years. This has led to a rise in the number of cancer cases and eventually death in young age. Not for once but for many times it has been said that tobacco is one such cause of death in Texas which could be preventable.

In Texas alone, more than 24,000 people die annually, but it seems very little on the part of the state government to be doing something about it. There is no end to revenues which gets generated from tobacco tax or from other tobacco settlements.

But in comparison to last year allocation of money being used on activities that would focus on preventing tobacco use is quite less. As per official figures, more than $1.9 billion is generated for this year but only $5.5 million is allocated for such activities, which is quiet less than the amount that was allocate last year, said James Gray who is Texas Director of government relations for the American Cancer Society.

Tobacco prevention activities are one of the most effective methods to prevent youth from smoking. This fact is not hidden from the state government and then also if they are not encouraging such activities by not spending appropriate fund then they are giving rise to tobacco-related illnesses.

These diseases need lot of money which is not only taxing for patients but also for the state health system. This was the reason that the multistate lawsuit was filed against tobacco giants in 1998.

As per this settlement, tobacco company owners had agreed to pay Texas $15 billion over 25 years as a part of compensation.

All these facts have been added in the study called "A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 13 Years Later” which was taken out by number of health institutions.

Report shows slower progress toward reducing teen tobacco use

2011-12-12T14:58:00.002+02:00

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released new information this week showing that after a decade of sharp declines in tobacco use among teens, progress is slowing.

In addition, more than 50 percent of high school students are still exposed to secondhand smoke, despite the passage of the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007. Equally concerning is that the use of menthol cigarettes has more than doubled among teen smokers since 2000. These findings are included in the report, Teens and Tobacco in Minnesota 2011; Results from the Minnesota Youth Tobacco and Asthma Survey.

"We've made great progress in reducing tobacco use since 2000, but the most recent findings in this new report give us little to celebrate," said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. "We are failing our youth when you consider that they use tobacco at higher rates than adults and are still being exposed to secondhand smoke. We are setting them up for a future of tobacco-related illness and premature death."

Ehlinger noted that tobacco use continues to be the nation's leading cause of preventable disease and death and that teens are especially vulnerable to picking up the habit. "Too many teens continue to be influenced by the tobacco industry's slick marketing tactics. It is critical that we step up our prevention efforts because 80 percent of adult smokers began when they were under 18," Ehlinger said.

Key findings from the report include:

Between 2008 and 2011, the percentage of middle school students who used any tobacco products in the past 30 days declined from 6.9 percent to 5.6 percent. At the high school level, the percentage declined slightly from 27.0 percent to 25.8 percent. Neither of these decreases is statistically significant. In comparison, 22 percent of adults use tobacco.

Progress in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke has slowed since 2008, after many years of strong declines. Exposure declined slightly between 2008 and 2011, from 55.4 to 52.5 percent for high school students and from 39.6 percent to 37.7 percent for middle school students.

Among high school students, preference for menthols has more than doubled since 2000 and is continuing to rise; 47.3 percent of high school smokers usually smoke menthols today, compared to 39.1 percent in 2008 and 19.9 percent in 2000. Menthol appears to make it easier for young people to start smoking.

One in seven high school students (14.3 percent) report that they have tried snus in their lifetime, and 4.9 percent report using snus in the last 30 days. Snus is a new smokeless tobacco product that comes in small pouches.

More than one-fourth of high school students (28.6 percent) and 6.8 percent of middle school students report that they have tried flavored cigars and little cigars at some point in their lives. (The FDA recently banned candy flavors, fruit flavors, chocolate and other sweet flavors in cigarettes, but not cigar products.)

The percentage of students who see or hear commercials about the dangers of smoking one or more times per week declined significantly between 2008 and 2011 for both middle school students (from 41.2 percent to 31.8 percent) and high school students (from 48.4 percent to 36.0 percent).

The tobacco industry is increasingly active on popular social networking and video-sharing internet sites. One in four high school students (26.3 percent) report seeing videos or clips showing smoking most or some of the time on YouTube or other video-sharing sites, and 20.2 percent report seeing "pages" or "groups" for tobacco products on Facebook.

"This report demonstrates the need to maintain long-term teen tobacco prevention strategies," Ehlinger said. "If we rest on our laurels, we will continue to see our progress slow, or even reverse itself, and we cannot stand for that."

Ehlinger noted a number of strategies that public health officials across the country have used to successfully reduce and prevent youth tobacco use, including:

Price increases on tobacco products.

Counter-advertising mass-media campaigns that include TV and radio commercials, posters, and other media messages to counter pro-tobacco marketing.

Comprehensive school-based tobacco-use prevention policies and programs, such as tobacco-free campuses.

Community interventions that reduce tobacco advertising, promotions and commercial availability of tobacco products.

Ehlinger said MDH will continue working with partners across the state to explore all strategies for reducing teen tobacco use.

The department's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program administers grants to reduce tobacco use and exposure, works together with the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) and other community-based initiatives, and collaborates with statewide partners to reduce Minnesotans' exposure to secondhand smoke and to help people who use tobacco quit. In addition to working on multiple fronts to discourage youth tobacco use, the program works with diverse communities to eliminate health disparities caused by tobacco use and exposure.

SHIP, which was included in Minnesota's landmark 2008 health reform legislation, aims to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic diseases caused by tobacco use and obesity.

Tobacco merchants resent govt apathy

2011-12-12T14:57:00.000+02:00

An All Kerala Tobacco Merchants Association meet was held yesterday at Casino Hotel auditorium to discuss the problems faced by the tobacco merchants.
Association president K Venkitachalam said, "The government is doing wrong to more than two lakh dealers in Kerala by conducting illegal raids at shops selling tobacco."
It's been one year since this association was formed and problems are ever increasing, he said. The government is collecting taxes on tobacco and seizing the same material stating that a minimum distance of 400 metres should be maintained from schools.

This kind of action should be reverted, he pointed out. "We have given petitions to the chief minister and the deputy general of police," said Venkitachalam.
Also present at the event were Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi state president T Nasurideen, secretary Dr M Jayaprakash, Youth Wing state president Sijo Chirakkekaren, Thrissur city unit secretary Jaison Erinjery, Jacob Varghese of ITC and Kozhikode secretary Sethumadhavan.

Shook Hardy loses part of its tobacco practice

2011-12-12T14:50:00.002+02:00

Part of Shook Hardy & Bacon’s famed tobacco practice is moving to a different law firm.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed, a New York-based firm, will open a Kansas City office to assume Shook’s defense work for Lorillard Tobacco.

Kansas City-based Shook retains Philip Morris USA, the industry’s dominant tobacco company best known for its Marlboro brand.

Industry insiders said the move reflected tobacco companies’ desire to be represented exclusively by their outside law firms rather than have a firm also represent an industry rival.

Lorillard and Philip Morris recently have taken different stances on how to respond to tighter regulatory controls by the Food and Drug Administration.

Eight Shook lawyers — six partners and two of counsel to the firm — will move to the Hughes firm, effective Jan. 1.

Hughes will open in the 2345 Grand Blvd. building, about a block from the Shook office tower at Crown Center.

Shook managing partner John Murphy said 17 or 18 staff members also would make the move. The firm did not name the lawyers who will follow the Lorillard business.

It will take until about June 30 for Shook to completely wind down all of its Lorillard work, Murphy said.

The move of Lorillard, which makes Kent, Newport and other cigarette brands, was first reported online by Am Law Daily.

Murphy said Shook had been successful at trial in representing Philip Morris in “significantly more cases” than Lorillard. He declined to compare or quantify the size of the business that Shook did with the two tobacco giants.

Shook’s size and reputation have grown over the years partly because of its products liability litigation work for tobacco companies.

This will be the first Midwest expansion for the Hughes firm, which also has offices in Los Angeles; Miami; Washington, D.C.; Paris; and Tokyo. It has about 300 lawyers in all.

MCDH and Centegra Partner For Cease-Smoking Class

2011-11-25T16:49:00.002+02:00

McHenry County Department of Health and Centegra Health System are partnering to offer a seven-week quit smoking class for adults beginning on Thursday, January 12.

Classes will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center, 10450 Algonquin Road, Huntley, according to a MCDH release.

A $25 course fee, payable at the first class, is refundable if registered participants attend all seven sessions. Class members also will receive a free three-day pass to the Health Bridge Fitness Center, the press release said.

During the class, instructors will teach practical ways to end nicotine addiction through group support and behavior modification. They also will review nicotine replacement products currently on the market. Instruction is provided by MCDH staff members who are trained in the American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” program.

Brazil bans smoking in enclosed public places

2011-11-25T16:26:00.002+02:00

The Brazilian Congress has passed a bill banning smoking in enclosed public places nationwide.

Smoking bans are already in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other big cities.

The new law goes one step further. It makes illegal designated smoking rooms in airports and bars that exist even in those places with a ban already in place.

It also raises taxes on tobacco products and is forcing a minimum price on the products, increasing costs for consumers by up to 55 percent within four years.

The law is in part aimed at cigarettes that enter the country illegally, mostly over the border with Paraguay. Those are sold for a fraction of the price of Brazil-made cigarettes.

President Dilma Rousseff is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

E.L. marijuana policy punishes illegal use only

2011-11-15T14:34:00.001+02:00

Despite a legal development last week that gives police the power to seize medical marijuana from registered patients, MSU and East Lansing police said they have not ramped up efforts to shut down the herbal alternative on campus.

Last week, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued an opinion that effectively allows police officers to confiscate medical marijuana from patients . If a patient is stopped for another reason, such as a traffic stop, an officer can take away any amount of the substance in their possession and cannot return it.

But on campus, police policy has not changed as a result of the ruling — patients who legally are allowed to have marijuana will not see their medicine taken, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

“We don’t confiscate as long as the individual is in compliance with the law,” Taylor said.

University policy prohibits marijuana use on campus, meaning students are subject to university punishment. Students, however, can break their housing contract with no penalty if they are a medical marijuana patient.

East Lansing police also said they don’t take away marijuana from medical marijuana patients unless a patient has it confiscated for using legal marijuana in an illegal way, East Lansing police Capt. Kim Johnson said.

“Even the people with the cards can’t do certain things with it,” Johnson said. “(But) if they fall within the law, we wouldn’t be taking it.”

The opinion was issued on the grounds that forcing officers to return the drug is a conflict of state and federal laws and therefore would be forcing them to commit a federal crime.

“The people of this state, even in the exercise of their constitutional right to initiate legislation, cannot require law enforcement officers to violate federal law,” Schuette wrote in the opinion.

But Brian Fenech, an Ann Arbor defense attorney who specializes in medical marijuana, said the ruling is a blatant distortion of the act passed by voters.

“It’s clear from the law that’s not how it was intended to be handled,” Fenech said. “It’s another one of Schuette’s attempts … to try and usurp the will of the people by creating law out of whole cloth.”

The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act passed with a ballot initiative in 2008. Since then, about 119,000 residents have become registered as medical marijuana patients, according to numbers from the state of Michigan.

“I think it’s hypocritical if it’s a medicine,” English sophomore Colin Konkel said. “If a person has permission to use that substance, they should be allowed to have it on them without it being confiscated.”

Most smokers want to quit but few do, a CDC report finds

2011-11-15T14:32:00.001+02:00

When it comes to quitting smoking, the lungs might be willing but the flesh is weak. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that while about 69 percent of smokers last year wanted to quit, only about a tenth were able to do so.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report used data from a large national survey from 2001 through 2010. Among the smokers surveyed most - 68.8 percent - wanted to quit for good in 2010, and 52.4 percent tried to quit in the previous year. Only 6.2 percent succeeded, however.

When broken down by race and ethnicity, 75.6 percent of blacks were interested in quitting, followed by 69.1 percent of whites and 61 percent of Latinos. Blacks also had the most attempts at quitting (59.1 percent), followed by whites (50.7 percent). But more whites were likely to quit smoking than blacks - 6 percent versus 3.3 percent. The discrepancy, the report said, could be due to blacks' lower use of proven stop-smoking treatments as well as their higher use of menthol cigarettes, which may be linked with fewer successful quit attempts among blacks.

People who had more education were more likely to try to quit compared to those with less education, and they were more likely to succeed: 11.4 percent of smokers with an undergraduate degree were able to quit compared to 3.2 percent of smokers who had at most completed high school.

Just under half of study participants who saw a healthcare professional said they were advised by them to stop smoking. Among current and former smokers who were able to quit in the last two years, 31.7 percent used counseling, stop-smoking medication or both. Among people age 25 to 64, attempts at quitting went up from 2001 to 2010.

Smoking an addiction, not a habit, lung association says

2011-11-15T14:30:00.001+02:00

Leah Heneghan was so afraid of exposing others to the stench of cigarette smoke after she'd lit up that she took to carrying around a can of Febreze.

The smoker of 18 years, who had made several attempts to stop over the years, knew it was time to quit for good.

"This time it just feels like some-thing clicked in my head," she said. "My entire being agreed to it this time instead of fighting me."

It wasn't easy. Heneghan, 37, the creative director for Vancouver Craft Beer Week, had to stop drinking the very beverage she is paid to market because it made her want to smoke.

She switched from coffee - another trigger - to tea, drank lots of water and didn't go out as much.

Nicotine withdrawal caused her to be moody and short with people.

"You have to realize it's not you being angry at someone; it's this horrible little addiction trying to fight its way back."

And addiction, many are arguing, is exactly the word to describe chronic smoking. In recognition of Addictions Awareness Week, which started Mon-day, the BC Lung Association is calling for the term "addiction" to replace the word "habit" when referring to tobacco smokers.

"The amount of times that I've tried to quit and I haven't been able to over the years - you can't tell me that that's a habit," Heneghan said. "'Habit' doesn't seem like it's a serious enough word."

Nicotine dependence is included in the manual used by doctors to diagnose psychiatric disorders and has predictable withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, anxiety and cravings, said Dr. Milan Khara, clinical director of the tobacco dependence clinic for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. "So really, by many measures, this meets the standard for an addiction and not a habit or a life-style choice."

And although the withdrawal symptoms experienced by smokers are not as traumatic as for those addicted to "hard" drugs such as heroin or cocaine, nicotine is in many ways more addictive because it enters the brain within seconds of inhalation, Khara said.

"The brain is actually altered by exposure to nicotine. That change is what leads to withdrawal symptoms when, in fact, a smoker does stop smoking."

Introducing a change in terminology is important because smokers are much more likely to seek treatment when they think of it as an addiction rather than a question of willpower, Khara said. The two treatments that Khara says have been clinically proven to help smokers quit are counsel-ling from a health care provider and medications delivered via gum and patches.

The B.C. government began subsidizing nicotine-replacement therapies on Sept. 30. To get the gum and patches at no charge, patients must first call 8-1-1 and register for the pro-gram with a nurse. Two smoking-cessation drugs are also covered under Pharmacare.

But for Heneghan, it wasn't counsel-ling or gum that made the difference this time; it was apps. One told her how many cigarettes she would have smoked and how much she would have spent on them; the other provided access to a community of people who were trying to quit, where she could post how she was feeling and get positive reinforcement: "It makes you feel like you've got this real sup-port community. That probably was the thing that made the biggest difference to me."

Florence smoke-free ordinance takes effect Tuesday

2011-11-01T17:06:00.002+02:00

Restaurants and bars within Florence city limits will go smoke-free Tuesday when the long-anticipated smoking ordinance officially takes effect.

Florence City Council adopted the ordinance May 9 following years of contentious debate. The measure passed by a 5-2 majority of council members and will apply to most public indoor gathering places within the city, including restaurants and bars.

While some restaurants had to prepare for the changes by removing smoking sections and ashtrays and informing customers, other restaurants and bars in both the city and in Florence County went smoke-free long ago and said they felt the ordinance was overdue.

One of those restaurants is Stefano’s, which eliminated its smoking section several years ago Stefano’s owner Steve Toniolo said he made the decision because he felt the benefits outweighed any possible negativity. He said he was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of both smokers and non-smokers alike.

“We had a long wait for the non-smoking section, so we decided to just decorate outside, put out some concrete benches and smokeless ashtrays out there and people just go outside to smoke a cigarette,” he said.

Toniolo said that he feels business actually increased when he decided to make the establishment smoke-free and said it provides a better atmosphere for every customer trying to enjoy a meal.

“Everybody seems more happy. Even the people who do smoke, they don’t really have a problem with going outside and smoking a cigarette,” he said.

Many restaurant owners said although the impact of the smoking ordinance will not truly be known until it takes effect, they hope to retain their customers despite any backlash from smokers.

The ordinance prohibits smoking in enclosed buildings and spaces within the city, but allows for smoking on open decks, balconies and patios of restaurants.

Monroe mayor in hot water over smoking allegations

2011-11-01T16:59:00.001+02:00

Current and former Monroe employees along with resident business owners allege Mayor Michael Gabbianelli smokes in his third-floor town hall office.

“He always smokes in his office and still does,” said Alma Alexander, a longtime tax office employee who retired in June.

Resident business owner Dave Montizer said the mayor lit up in a private meeting last year with zoning board members and his attorney Richard Kaser, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

“He was smoking a cigarette in the open,” Montizer said. “My lawyer said, ‘You’re smoking in a township building …’ ”

Montizer said Gabbianelli replied, “You don’t (expletive) like it, there’s the (expletive) door.”

Former township Mayor Jack Luby has heard similar tales. His two children work for the township.

“I’ve heard people say they’re (ticked) by it and told him ‘You can’t smoke in here. Go outside,’ ” Luby said. “Evidently the rules are made for everybody else.”

Monroe’s smoke-free workplace policy was adopted by Luby’s administration in 1997. Each violation carries a fine between $100 and $1,000, along with up to 30 days community service. People who smoke in public or government spaces are subject to $200 fines, according to state law.

A Monroe police officer said, on the condition of anonymity, secondhand smoke from the mayor’s office sometimes travels via air ducts into the police station.

When asked in their town hall offices if the mayor’s smoking was a nuisance, about a dozen township employees paused before replying for the record, “No comment.” Two other employees answered they weren’t aware the mayor smokes.

In an emailed response from township solicitor Chuck Fiore, Gabbianelli wouldn’t address smoking allegations. Monroe Police Chief Joseph Smart and other police administrators didn’t comment Monday. TRICO Municipal Joint Insurance Fund insures Monroe’s town hall. TRICO executive director Paul Miola didn’t comment Monday.

It’s the latest in a growing number of problems for the part-time Democratic mayor, who faces growing scrutiny for allegedly violating state or local regulations.

Selling tobacco via vending machines means a big fine

2011-10-26T12:41:00.002+03:00

The legislation means traders could face a fine of thousands of pounds or even a prison sentence if they sell directly to the public via machines.
It will also be illegal to display the tobacco advertising that would normally be present on a vending machine.
Although the law applies regardless of the age of the purchaser, Hertfordshire Trading Standards said the change was primarily to cut off a popular supply line of cigarettes to youngsters.
A survey of smoking among UK children revealed that 17 per cent of 11-15-year-olds who smoked regularly said that vending machines were their usual source of cigarettes.
Hertfordshire County Council’s executive member for community safety Cllr Richard Thake (Con, Knebworth and Codicote) said: “Young people take advantage of the fact that they are less likely to get asked about their age when buying cigarettes from a vending machine as opposed to over the counter.”
Trading standards found under-age test purchasers were able to buy cigarettes from 15 of 20 vending machines tested in Herts last year, with many of the remainder out of action.
Cllr Thake continued: “Businesses must comply with this new law. If a trading standards officer visits a premise and finds that cigarettes are still being sold to the public directly from a vending machine, the owner or manager could be fined up to £2,500.”
The penalty for displaying advertising on vending machines is up to £5,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.

Hoddle St killer against jail tobacco levy

2011-10-26T12:40:00.002+03:00

Hoddle Street murderer Julian Knight is questioning the legality of a tobacco levy imposed on prisoners.

Knight was 19 when he shot dead seven people and injured 19 in the Hoddle Street massacre in Melbourne in 1987.

He was sentenced to a maximum of seven life sentences, with a minimum of 27 years, and will be eligible for parole in 2014.

Knight has been declared a vexatious litigant and is prohibited from starting legal proceedings without court permission.

He told the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday that Corrections Victoria did not have the power to impose the levy, in place since 1993.

Philip Morris says closes plant in Uruguay amid lawsuit

2011-10-26T12:39:00.000+03:00

U.S. tobacco giant Philip Morris said on Friday it shut down its plant in Uruguay because the country's anti-smoking policies make business unprofitable.

Philip Morris' local unit sued Uruguay at the World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in February 2010. The company seeks compensation for damages allegedly caused by the state's anti-tobacco measures.

Uruguay imposed a ban on smoking in public spaces in 2006, raised taxes on tobacco products and forced firms to include large warnings and graphic images including diseased lungs and rotting teeth on cigarette packages.

It also banned the use of the words "light" and "mild" from cigarette packs to try to dispel smokers' misbeliefs that the products are safer.

"Plant operations are no longer viable because of the broad availability and presence of illegal products in the market, combined with a reduction in demand and fiscal and regulatory measures that limit our capacity to commercialize our products profitably," the firm's Abal Hermanos local unit said in a statement.

Philip Morris' domestic subsidiary said it will now import cigarettes from Argentina. Abal Hermanos laid off 62 of the 90 workers employed at its plant located in the capital Montevideo and said the rest will work at sales and import offices.

Uruguay's Labor Minister Eduardo Brenta said he was concerned that the company had taken a rushed decision without consulting the government first.

"We're worried that this decision was taken all of a sudden," Brenta said. "We can't understand why (the company) did not make pre-announcement so we could take preventive measures."

Members of the country's tobacco union occupied the plant on Friday to protest the workers' dismissal.

"They breached all agreements between the union and the company," said Mario de Castro, union secretary at the country's Autonomous Tobacco Syndicate.

"What they claim is lies," de Castro said. "They blame it on the court case, on the regulatory measures, but they are shutting the plant to bring in production from Argentina."

The World Bank's investment dispute tribunal has yet to rule on the case.

Health boss backs illegal tobacco campaign

2011-10-26T12:37:00.000+03:00

A NEW campaign launched this week by Tobacco Free Futures aimed at making smoking history for children has the full support of a health boss at NHS East Lancashire.

The campaign, called “Keep It Out”, encourages communities to take action against the dealers and aims to raise awareness of illegal tobacco and the harmful effect it has on the young people of East Lancashire.

Dr Sohail Bhatti, Interim Director of Public Health at NHS East Lancashire, said: “On average, over 500 people in East Lancashire die each year because of smoking-related diseases. We need to work together in our communities to stop illegal cigarettes being sold to children so they don’t become one of these terrible statistics in the future.”

New research has shown the availability of illegal tobacco is making it far too easy for children and young people to smoke. Half of the tobacco bought by 14 to 15-year-olds is illegal, a much higher percentage than the amount bought by adults, and research shows one in four young smokers regularly gets offered illegal tobacco, which is also far more than adults.

Dealers target children and young people by selling them single cigarettes, which makes it more affordable for them and gets them hooked so they come back for more. Illegal tobacco is also linked to low-level and large-scale organised crime, so it helps fund drugs and weapon smuggling, child exploitation and money laundering.

Dr Bhatti said: “It’s worrying that East Lancashire is a hotspot for illegal tobacco. I welcome this campaign and the very valuable work Trading Standards do to keep out illegal tobacco.”

2 special operations against cigarette smuggling carried out by customs officers in past 12 hours

2011-10-18T13:53:00.001+03:00

Customs officers carried out two special operations against cigarette smuggling over the past 12 hours, the press office of the National Customs Agency announced.
The first operation started at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday in the region of Dragoman. Officers with the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department with the Customs Sofia detected and foiled the smuggling of some 1,978 boxes of cigarettes with Serbian and Kosovar excise stamps, as well as 190 boxes of cigarettes without excise stamp. The cigarettes were fund in the service carriage of a train transporting officers with the Bulgarian State Railways working at the Dimitrovgrad railway station in Serbia.
A total of 2,168 boxes of cigarettes were found carried by railway workers, in the empty carriages of the train, as well as outside the train – cigarettes thrown away by the railway workers.
The second operation started at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, carried out by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department with the Customs Sofia, in cooperation with Economic Police with the general Directorate of Criminal Police.
Authorities checked a site, used as a depot for illegal cigarette distribution. The cigarettes were without excise stamp. Authorities seized 10,820 boxes of cigarettes without excise stamps. Other 750 boxes if cigarettes were found in a car used by the two persons put under surveillance during the investigation. According to initial information, authorities have busted a well-organised scheme for illegal cigarette distribution.

Marijuana Use Increases Risk of Car Accidents

2011-10-18T13:51:00.000+03:00

While there may be benefits from the use of marijuana, there are downsides to both medicinal therapy and illicit pot use. The latest study shows that there is a higher risk of car crashes amongst users, which may impact the current legalization push in states nationwide.
Marijuana acts on your central nervous system. While it can elicit feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and increased sensation, it may also lead to a decreased ability to perform tasks that require a lot of coordination (such as driving a car). Which is exactly what this research proves.
An online study, conducted by Epidemiologic Reviews, shows that smoking marijuana prior to getting behind the wheel increases the risk of car crashes by approximately double, over those who don’t light up.
Lead author Dr. Guohua Li, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, said that while alcohol use is down, pot smoking is up. A recent survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 8.9 percent of the U.S. population or 22.6 million Americans aged 12 and older used illicit drugs in 2010, up from 8.7 percent in 2009 and 8 percent in 2008.
Using the data from nine prior studies to assess the risk of driving while under the influence of marijuana, Li and his colleagues found that driving in the three- to four-hour time range after smoking marijuana is the most dangerous, and overall makes driving 2.7 times riskier.
Ultimately this could have an effect on both current and pending legislation as well as insurance rates. Chuck Farmer, the director of statistics at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, wasn’t ready to jump on that bandwagon.
"We can't really say yet that marijuana increases the risk by two or three times," said Farmer. "Most of their studies pointed to a very strong bad effect of marijuana on driving, but there are other studies out there that actually go the other way."

City May Consider Ban On Smoking Outside Apartments

2011-10-18T13:49:00.001+03:00

The San Diego City Attorney's Office is reviewing a draft of an ordinance that could ban smoking in the common areas of multi-family complexes. The draft was created by a task force assembled to examine the impact of second-hand smoke at apartment and condo properties. However, there are a lot of questions for the ordinance.

"Legally, can this be done? If so, what would it look like?" said San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald, who is a part of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee.
Emerald has pushed the city attorney's office to review the ordinance so that it can be presented back to the committee and, eventually, the full City Council.
However, Emerald said she understands it may be hard where to draw the line and not impede on the rights of smokers.
"And while I may not be a smoker today, I have in the past, so I sympathize with the rights of smokers as well as non-smokers," she said.
Thirteen California municipalities currently have similar smoking bans for common areas in multi-family complexes.

Proposed smoking ban raises controversy at public hearing

2011-10-18T13:42:00.002+03:00

The second public hearing regarding Richmond County's proposed smoking ban was a packed house. Very few seemed undecided; most either strongly support the ordinance...or outright hate it. Amy Lewis was one of the first speakers Monday night, expressing a concern that the law is unreasonably attempting to force everyone to live in a "plastic bubble." She concludes, "If you want to go crawl in your plastic bubble, you have the ultimate right. You go crawl into your little bubble. And while you're there--- zip it up."

Several doctors, nurses and health advocates spoke out, too, arguing that employees of bars have the right to work in a smoke-free environment. Cheryl Wheeler is the Advocacy Chair for the American Cancer Society. "I have the opportunity to work in a healthy environment, and everyone deserves that. A healthy environment." Cheryl says she is just as passionate about helping smokers quit. "I've seen the impact professionally and personally of the impact of both smoking and exposure to second hand smoke."

Lewis and several other protesters of the ban say "do-gooders" supporting the ordinance are infringing on their legal right to smoke. Bar owners are also concerned with infringement of right; for example, their right to run business however they please and appeal to whomever they desire, smoker or non-smoker. "If a person doesn't want to go in a bar that smokes, don't go there! They have plenty of bars in Augusta and Richmond County that have non-smoking already," insists R.W. McClellan. He's owned and worked in his bar for eighteen years. He is not a smoker, but smoking is allowed in his bar. McClellan points out, "I'm one who's being exposed to this second hand smoke they are talking about." But, he explains, he's invested in "smoke eaters," fans that suck in and purify air around the bar. "It comes out cleaner than the air outside around here," McClellan believes.

McClellan also says if the new ordinance is passed and enforced, bar finances will go up in smoke. "We'd all be out of business. Richmond County's gonna be in trouble because i will cost them millions of dollars over the years." He worries non-smoking laws will push customers elsewhere. Sheila Hernan agrees and summarizes her speech to the crowd in a quick seven seconds. "Smoking is legal; Drinking is legal; My business is legal. 98% of my customers smoke. This will probably shut us down."

Lora Hawk supports the ordinance and questions, "I have to ask you- where is the business going to go? Is it going to go to Columbia County? Because they already have an ordinance. Is it going to go to Aiken, South Carolina? Because they already have an ordinance, too. All your neighbors already have the ordinance." So do 500 other municipalities across the country, she says, in addition to 29 entire states with smoking ban laws.

Noah Garcia brings up his concerns with the language of the law. "If the ordinance is to prevent second-hand smoke, then why are electric cigarette devices listed, too?" He starts up his electric cigarette, showing a the minimal amount of smoke it produces. Garcia says he's used the nicotine-only device as a way to ween off of cigarettes. "There's no fire, no combustible plant matter, there's no trash. You don't litter, there's no nothing. And there's no smoke! You can't say that it's harmful to anybody else but me."

Chile Supreme Court OKs medical marijuana company

2011-10-10T12:57:00.001+03:00

Chile's Supreme Court ruled Friday that the government unconstitutionally revoked a company's permit to grow medical marijuana.

But a lawyer for the government said Chile remains a long way from allowing the production and sale of marijuana for therapeutic purposes.

The court ruled unanimously that Chile's agriculture service unfairly canceled the permit it granted Agrofuturo in 2009 to cultivate marijuana for therapeutic products. The service based its cancellation last year on a health service prohibition against including marijuana in pharmaceutical products.

"We find ourselves very happy" with the ruling, Agrofuturo owner Alvaro Gomez told The Associated Press in a phone interview from the city of Los Angeles in Chile's southern Bio Bio region, where the marijuana would be grown.

Gomez declined to comment further.

The judges focused their decision on due process requirements, and didn't make broader statements inviting a medical marijuana boom in Chile. It is legal in Chile to consume marijuana alone on private property, but against the law to consume it in groups or grow it without a government permit.

When the company applied for its permit, it laid out plans to sell the marijuana to be drunk as infusions, in bags similar to tea, and said that whether its sale would require a doctor's prescription would be determined by Chile's Public Health Institute.

The institute, however, clarified this year that producing, transporting and distributing marijuana remains prohibited in Chile and that legal use would be permitted only as part of scientific research. Jorge Correa, a lawyer for the agricultural service, says the health institute still has the last word on marijuana production.

The Chilean courts in 2005 absolved a woman who grew and consumed marijuana inside her home to ease pain from arthritis and rheumatism, but that ruling also failed to set a precedent for a medicinal marijuana industry.

Figures show smoking decline in Tayside

2011-10-10T12:56:00.002+03:00

Graeme Dey, MSP for Angus South, has expressed his delight at figures which show more than 14,000 people have attempted to stop smoking in the NHS Tayside area in the last three years. The figures cover the period April 2008 to March 2011.

Mr Dey said: “Leading a smoke-free life is one simple way to improve your health dramatically, and I am very pleased to see so many people in Angus South attempt to quit the habit.

“These figures show that right across Scotland people are determined and willing to stop smoking, which will go a long way to make us a fitter, healthier and happier nation, never mind the positive impact it will have on your wallet.

“The figures also show that we have a strong support network of health professionals across Angus and Tayside ready to provide help and advice, and NHS Tayside should be commended for this.

“There is always work that needs to be done to tackle the challenge smoking provides however, but the tough new display regulations for cigarettes and tobacco introduced by the Scottish Government will further improve matters.

“As we continue to try and be smoke-free, and with major sporting events such as the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games heading to Scotland very shortly, I’ve no doubt people will be much keener to kick their habit into touch.”

Marijuana processing business planned for Albany

2011-10-10T12:53:00.002+03:00

An Albany woman plans to open a marijuana processing business next month to convert the weed provided by medical cardholders into a smokeless substance.
Owner Rhea Graham, 50, who has a medical marijuana card, said she expects to be flooded with customers when she begins operating Albany’s Canna Kitchen & Research on Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
“I chose that day because I am a 20-year Air Force veteran, the power of 11/11/11, and I expect people will want to drop by after the parade,” she said.
At her business, Graham will wash the marijuana and then process it primarily into butter, oils, tinctures, salves and capsules.
Albany police Capt. Eric Carter said this about the new business in an email:
“This particular situation is a new twist on things; however, as far as marijuana dispensaries are concerned, we are in discussion with the district attorney’s office and conducting the research necessary to come to a conclusion as to the legality of what is being proposed.”
Graham, who has lived in Albany 13 years, wants to emphasize her operation is not a place where people will go to hang out. She is there only to conduct business.
She also wants people to know how important it is to wash their medical marijuana.
“You wash your lettuce, don’t you?” she said. “When the plants grow, people spray for mites and other things but they don’t want to clean the plants because they are afraid they will wash off the THC, the psychoactive part of marijuana, but that’s not the case.”
Graham said she expects to do well because no one else in the area provides the same service.
David Martineau, a planner with the city, said his department is reviewing Graham’s site plan application. So far, he has not seen any problems with it.
Her location is zoned light industrial, and Graham’s business meets the city’s code criteria for that site. Previously, the 2,075-square-foot space her business will occupy contained a grass seed packing operation.
“Anytime there’s a change in the use of a building, we look to see if any additional impacts will be created, such as whether there will be a need for more parking, if there will be more foot traffic, any number of things,” Martineau said. “From what we can tell, we think there will be just 10 members a day going to the business.”
Graham said her hours are still in flux. She will be open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 11 a.m. She does not know if she will close at 6 or 8 p.m.

UO to go tobacco-free in 2012

2011-10-06T13:39:00.001+03:00

Starting in fall 2012, smoking will be banned on all University of Oregon property - including areas used by tailgaters outside Duck football games at Autzen Stadium.

Under the new smoke-free campus policy, smokers will literally have to leave campus to smoke a cigarette. The exact boundaries of the ban - and any penalties for violating the ban - have not yet been determined.

"With tighter tobacco control policy, that more people do quit and less people start, and that's an advantage to everybody," said Paula Staight with the UO Health Center, "And we know the majority of people do want to quit."

Students and staff will have free access to gum and patches to help quit. Will it work?

"I don't think it helps much honestly, because anybody who smokes will just walk off campus," said freshman Chris Richter.

Junior Wes Crosswhite smokes five to 10 cigarettes a day. A campus rule isn't going to make him give it up.

"I don't want to right away," he said, "so it's not fair to me. It will really suck, because U of O is a big campus. I'll have to smoke 15 minutes that way or 10 minutes that way before I can go to class. And in between classes I won't get any smoking time, either."

That means the hustle and bustle of campus will be smoke-free.

"I feel great about that," said Jojoe Nujoy, a UO grad student. "It's just really annoying when the smoke is blowing in your face."

"I don't mind if people are doing it in designated areas," said freshman Kim Ames, "but when i'm walking, I don't want to smell it."

Augusta Commissioners To Discuss Smoking Ban Proposal Cancelled

2011-10-06T13:38:00.001+03:00

Augusta Commissioners will hold a public meeting Wednesday evening to talk about a proposed smoking ban in Augusta.

The Richmond County Board of Health's proposal would snuff out smoking in just about every public place in the city.

If you want to let your feelings be known about the proposed ban, you can take part in the meeting Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. in the Augusta Commission Chambers at the Augusta Municipal Building.

Ruling on smoking ban looms

2011-10-06T13:36:00.001+03:00

Proponents and opponents of Springfield's smoking ban could see a ruling on the disputed ordinance in about a week.

That's the estimate Associate Circuit Judge Jason Brown gave Wednesday at the end of a summary judgment hearing.

Jean Doublin, who owns Ruthie's Bar on Commercial Street and is suing the city over the ban, said she was satisfied with attorney Jonathan Sternberg's arguments during the hearing attended by several tavern owners.

"I hope he decides in our favor," Doublin said after the half-hour hearing .

Brown, who heard arguments from Sternberg and assistant city attorney Marianne Landers Banks, said he anticipates making a ruling soon.

"Hopefully, within the next week," he said.

Earlier this year, Brown refused to issue a restraining order to halt implementation of the ordinance.

There was no clear hint on how the judge might rule after hearing each attorney's arguments.

The judge's questions raised issues he'll consider.

He indicated a central question is whether the ordinance that's been in effect since June 11 is regulation or prohibition of smoking in what are considered public places.

Sternberg argued that Ruthie's is not a public place because it displays signs notifying customers that it has no accommodations for non-smokers.

That means state law overrules local ordinances, he contended.

"What the city has done here is outright prohibition of what the state allows," he said.

Banks argued a sign does no such thing and it does not prevent a tavern from being considered a public place and covered by the ban.

Before the hearing, Sternberg said the judge's ruling won't end the legal battle over smoking in Springfield.

That's because whoever loses, an appeal can be expected, he said.

Michigan Study Shows Positive Results for Smoking Ban

2011-10-06T13:35:00.001+03:00

A new study released by the Michigan Department of Community Heath shows the positive health effects the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Law is having on the state of Michigan. The study, measuring air quality in restaurants, confirmed a 93 percent reduction in the level of dangerous particulate matter in the air after the law went into effect.

The MDCH study was conducted in 77 restaurants that allowed smoking prior to the passage of the law. According to the study, 85 percent of those establishments registered poor to dangerous air quality prior to the law’s passage.

“A 93 percent drop in particulates is significant,” said Judy Stewart, campaign manager for the Michigan Campaign for Smokefree Air. “It shows that the law has leveled the playing field and given bar and restaurant workers the same right that most of us in Michigan enjoy—the right to work in a safe and clean environment.”

Michigan became the 38th state in the nation to implement a smokefree air law on May 1, 2010. This new study showing cleaner and healthier work environments complements other research showing the law has had no net negative economic impact on business in our state.

“Critics of the smokefree air law, to this day, pay little attention to the health benefits of the law and choose instead to turn it into a political and partisan issue,” said Stewart. “What they ignore is the fact that smokefree air laws make for healthier employees, help increase worker productivity, lower the burden on Medicaid and Medicare by reducing health care costs for tobacco-related diseases, and overall, save lives by reducing exposure to a dangerous carcinogen—secondhand smoke.”

The Michigan Campaign for Smokefree Air commends Michigan policymakers for following the lead of a majority of other states and making Michigan smokefree. The most current poll (May 2011) of Michigan voters shows that 74 percent support the law and 93 percent say they will frequent bars and restaurants as often, or more often, than before the law was passed. “There is no question that this law is good for Michigan,” said Stewart.

Smoking hits women harder than men in every which way

2011-10-06T13:26:00.002+03:00

A new study has claimed that women who smokec cigarettes have heart attacks at younger ages and are more likely than men to suffer complications months after a cardiac arrest.

According to the study by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Centre, although fewer women than men smoke in the United States, the gender gap is decreasing, suggesting the toll of smoking is greater on the health of women.

“Smoking is not good for men or women but our analysis shows that women who smoke do worse six months after a heart attack than men,” Elizabeth Jackson, senior author of the study, said.

“We were not able to look at the basic biological mechanisms that would account for this, but other studies can give us some ideas.

“The ideologies of acute coronary syndrome may be different and the atherosclerotic burden greater for women,” she stated.

Jackson and lead author of the study Michael Howe conducted a study to examine the smoking status of patients during and six months after an acute coronary syndrome event, such as a heart attack.

They used the U-M Health System’s acute coronary event registry which has data on 3,588 patients admitted to the U-M Medical Centre from 1st January 1999 to 31st December, 2006 with a diagnosis of ACS.

A reported 24 percent of patients were actively smoking and male smokers were nine years younger than non-smoking men when admitted for their cardiac event, whereas smokers were 13 years younger than non-smoking women when admitted.

Among smokers, gender was a significant factor for risk of complications after a heart attack as six months after their cardiac event, 13.5 percent of female smokers needed emergency treatment to restore blood flow compared to 4.4 percent of male smokers who needed an unscheduled revascularization.

“The differences in outcomes among women smokers may reflect inherent biological differences between genders, or possibly less aggressive medical management of women that’s been described by other investigators,” Howe said.

“Either way, it clearly emphasizes the need for increased physician awareness and vigilance, in women in particular, after an acute coronary event,” he added.

The study has been published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Outdoor smoking ban coming to Victoria region, mayors say

2011-10-06T13:12:00.001+03:00

The days of enjoying a leisurely smoke on a Greater Victoria park bench or at the beach could be numbered.

The capital region undoubtedly will follow other municipalities in considering a smoking ban in outdoor areas, such as parks, playgrounds, beaches and trails, local politicians say.

"It's a big issue for parents," said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, adding residents are often as much concerned about smokers tossing cigarette butts as they are about second-hand smoke.

"I've had several people raise it as an issue for them. It's something we should take a look at."

The trend for smoke-free parks, playgrounds, beaches and trails is picking up steam.

About 50 municipalities across the country have enacted bylaws restricting smoking in open areas, such as parks and playgrounds. Smoking will be banned in regional parks and trails in Metro Vancouver from Jan. 1. Nanaimo is poised to pass a similar ban.

Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard said the subject undoubtedly will come up before the Capital Regional District, sitting as a board of health.

"These things work their way around the province. What we're doing today was unthinkable 25 years ago. What we do going forward, I think, will be just as progressive. But we've learned you need to move with public will," Leonard said.

Items such as smoking bylaws are better handled regionally than by individual municipalities, Leonard said.

"I think these sorts of things are just too confusing if they are patchwork," he said.

Dr. Richard Stanwick, Vancouver Island's chief medical health officer, has identified smoking regulations in parks as one of his areas of interest, as well as underage tanning and underage tattooing.

He has said that he will monitor the issue of tobacco smoke in parks and near playing fields to gain a better understanding of the risks and track community support for regulation, as well as for smoke-free buffers around elementary schools.

CRD chairman Geoff Young said he has no doubt the issue of smoking restrictions in parks will be back before the board, but noted health effects of second-hand smoke in parks are not as clear-cut as they are indoors, on patios or around doorways.

Liberia Enforces Public Smoking Ban

2011-09-28T13:02:00.003+03:00

Liberia has begun implementing legislation passed in 2008 that prohibits smoking in buses, restaurants, workplaces, and other public places. The ban also prohibits those under the age of 18 from buying or using tobacco products.

The ban is part of efforts to check increased rates of tobacco use and the attendant health concerns and costs.

Global public health experts say it remains a challenge to educate Africans about the risks of secondhand smoke, which contains dangerous compounds like tar, benzene and carbon monoxide. Secondhand smoke has been linked to cancer, low birth weight and chronic lung-related illnesses, particularly in children.

"An example of this would be people who are suffering asthma," says said Liberian public health expert William Roland. "Someone suffering from asthma is sitting near someone who is smoking, and that person is going to have what we call hyper-secretion, a hyper-sensitivity to the smoke [that] produce more mucus in their respiratory tract that will cause pulmonary obstruction."

Though rates of tobacco use in sub-Saharan Africa remain relatively low, health experts say they are climbing faster than anywhere else in the world.

Africa is what tobacco industry heavyweights call a growing market. Public health experts say it could be the site of a "pandemic" of smoking-related illnesses, such as heart attacks and cancer. Experts warn that these diseases, though preventable, could cripple Africa's already weak and under-resourced healthcare systems.

The Global Smokefree Partnership, which includes the American Cancer Society, says tobacco use in more than half of the African countries could double by 2021 if governments do not take swift action, such as banning public smoking and levying higher taxes on cigarettes to make them more expensive.

Liberia joins a handful of African countries, including South Africa, Kenya and Niger, that have passed public smoking bans in the past decade, though degrees of enforcement vary.

Some restaurant owners in the capital, Monrovia, worry that the smoking ban will hurt business. Others like Larry Togba say it will help.

"Most of my customers complain about other customers smoking in the restaurant," says Togba. "Even if I lose some of my customers for this, I hope the government will enforce this law."

Smokers like Tarnue Varnie in Monrovia, however, are less than pleased.

"This is a serious violation of our rights [and] I totally disagree that smoking in public will cause health hazard," he says. "This is a habit that we can't easily put aside and I think the government needs to be concentrating on other critical issues instead of talking about public smoking."

The Liberian National Police are enforcing the smoking ban, and businesses or other public institutions caught in violation face fines of $10,000 to $25,000. Individuals found smoking in restricted areas or facilitating the purchase of tobacco products by minors face 2nd degree misdemeanor charges and fines of approximately $400.

Smoking ban in Boise bars, parks looms

2011-09-28T12:59:00.001+03:00

More than 600 cities across the country, including El Paso, Texas; Corvallis, Ore; and New York City already ban smoking in bars.
Boise may follow suit if proposed Smoke Free Air Ordinances are approved.
The ordinances will be on the table Tuesday at a City Council work session. If passed, they will add new restrictions to state laws that already ban smoking in public areas like restaurants, elevators and most workplaces. The entire Boise State campus is smoke-free.
Along with bars, the ordinances would prohibit smoking in other places where people work and gather, including home-based businesses and tobacco shops.
The city says public sentiment is on its side.
A Boise City 2010 Citizen Survey found that approximately 70 percent of Boise residents agree the city should ban smoking in all indoor public places, including bars.
Others disagree.
“People come in, ask if they can smoke, sit down, and read a magazine,” said Stan Minder. The owner of Hannifin’s Cigar Shop, a city institution for more than a century, isn’t a smoker himself. But he wants his customers to be able to enjoy their conversations and tobacco.
“So many places have banned smoking already,” Minder said, adding that customers have to be 18 to come through his door. “When people come into a smoke shop, they know what they’re coming into.”
People love the old-time cigar-box scent of Hannifin’s, he said.
Some local bars, like Pengilly’s in Downtown Boise and the Crescent Bar on the Boise Bench, are ahead of the curve and have gone smoke-free voluntarily.
Customers smoked their last cigarette inside the Crescent in August. Owner Butch Morrison said he’s been anticipating a smoke ban for a long time.
Local anti-smoking advocates have worked for a ban in bars for several years. Council members Elaine Clegg and Alan Shealy got the council to start the process for developing a smoke-free ordinance back in December.
“Pretty soon, you get to the point that people won’t go out if you keep restricting things they want to do. But it’s kind of like you can’t fight City Hall,” said Morrison. “And we wanted to be part of the solution.”
The smoke ban hasn’t hurt his business. Fewer smokers mean more people come to the bar to order food, he said.
Smoking is still allowed on the Crescent’s outdoor patio — and would be OK under the new ordinance, which allows for smoking on privately owned outdoor patios designated for those 21 and older.
Places like bowling alleys, with separate, designated areas for inside smoking, would be out of luck.
Other bars are joining Hannifin’s side and are staunchly against the ban. It would hurt their ambiance, they say.
“People know that when they come to the 44, it’s a smoky bar,” said Jody Ciancia. She’s tended bar at the 44 Club on State Street for seven years.
She estimates that about 80 percent of the bar’s regular customers are smokers. She smokes and doesn’t like the idea of bar patrons having to stand outside in the winter to enjoy their cigarettes.
“Smoke is what makes the 44. A little, tiny, dark bar that’s been here forever,” said Ciancia.
Clegg and Shealy say they both grew up in families with smokers and suffered ill effects from secondhand smoke.
Clegg cited a recent study that shows the effects of secondhand smoke are more dangerous than previously thought.
“Safe workers are our primary focus,” she said.
Shealy said the economic costs of smoking are dire for Idahoans. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that the annual health care costs in Idaho directly caused by smoking total $319 million a year.
Enforcement of the proposed ordinances would rely more on compliance than on issuing tickets, said city spokesman Adam Park.
For example, if someone lights up in a bar, is asked to put out his cigarette and does, or leaves, he won’t be ticketed.
In cases where violators are ticketed, they’ll face a $69 fine.
Employers who knowingly permit smoking in prohibited areas would be fined $119.
The proposed ordinances also would extend the smoking ban to city parks and the Greenbelt. Fifty-three percent of respondents to the city’s 2010 survey were in favor of that idea.

California Program Collects $1.6 Million in Internet Cigarette Taxes

2011-09-22T12:40:00.001+03:00

A program in California is collecting state excise taxes and use taxes from people who purchase untaxed tobacco products via out-of-state Internet, mail or telephone sales.

Internet cigarette sellers are required to turn information over to the state about who is buying cigarettes from them. While the state has been sending invoices to those purchasers "for some time," for fiscal year 2010 to 2011, the State Board of Equalization (BOE) issued 1,723 billings resulting in $1.6 million in revenue. The previous year, BOE issued 3,077 billings, resulting in $232,424 in revenue.

Anita Gore, spokesperson for the BOE, told Tobacco E-News that it "beefed up efforts" in 2005 and brought on more staff to help with a backlog of invoices that arrived from the out-of-state retailers.

"People are quite often surprised when they get a bill," she said. In fact, a recent article in the Contra Costa Times, documented one Internet customer who received a bill for $1,398 from the BOE for back taxes and penalties on over 100 cartons purchased between 2007 and 2008. He had purchased the cigarettes on the Internet, because they were "substantially cheaper." But he told the paper that he "got caught" and would pay the tax.

"You know that when you go to a store and make a purchase, you pay both sales tax and excise tax," Gore said. "If you make those purchases online, you most likely know you're getting away without paying it—and that it is due. It's that old adage: If something looks too good to be true, it probably is."

22nd Century Delivers Proprietary Research Cigarettes for U.S. Government Order

2011-09-22T12:07:00.001+03:00

Century Group, Inc. XXII -6.25% , a company focused on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction products, announced today that the company has shipped more than 9 million SPECTRUM(R) research cigarettes. SPECTRUM(R) was developed by 22nd Century for the U.S. government and is strictly for independent research purposes. SPECTRUM(R) will not be sold as a commercial cigarette in the U.S.

The SPECTRUM(R) product line essentially consists of a series of cigarette styles that have a fixed "tar" yield but varying nicotine yields over a 35-fold range--from very low to high. Altogether, SPECTRUM(R) features 24 styles, in both regular and menthol versions, with 8 levels of nicotine in its tobacco. By far, the most prevalent style of SPECTRUM(R) produced for researchers is the very low nicotine (VLN) version, which has 97% less nicotine than conventional "light" cigarettes.

As the only company in the world able to produce VLN tobacco products, 22nd Century was chosen to supply its proprietary SPECTRUM(R) research cigarettes as a subcontractor under a 5-year federal government contract. Previously, 22nd Century's management met with independent researchers and officials from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discuss and finalize certain design features of these research Wont cigarettes.

"Working with these researchers and officials from federal public health agencies has been a terrific experience. Throughout the process, the investigators provided 22nd Century input on their research objectives and shared insights into what types of cigarettes would best facilitate their independent studies," stated Joseph Pandolfino, founder and chief executive officer of 22nd Century.

Dozens of research studies will be conducted with SPECTRUM(R). The research will include: (i) smoking cessation studies, (ii) exposure studies comparing how different nicotine levels in cigarettes affect smoking behavior and exposure to smoke toxins, and (iii) studies to determine whether there is a threshold nicotine level in cigarettes which does not produce dependence. Many of these studies would be very difficult, if not impossible, to conduct without SPECTRUM(R).

Mr. Pandolfino added, "22nd Century is pleased that SPECTRUM(R) will be used to provide answers to important research questions likely to affect tobacco public policy for years to come. I am optimistic that the results of these studies will be applied to reduce the harm caused by smoking--the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the world, according to the CDC and the World Health Organization."

Major retailers hit with new cigarette and alcohol tax

2011-09-22T12:06:00.002+03:00

The proposal — condemned by large business organisations — follows the failed ''Tesco Tax'' the SNP attempted to include in this year's budget.

Mr Swinney said the new tax was ''fair and proportionate'' and a vital revenue-raising measure given a backdrop of a real-terms reduction in the budget of £1.6 billion between this year and 2014-15.

He estimates £110 million will be generated in the next three years by imposing the levy through a business rates supplement on premises with a rateable value above £300,000 that sell tobacco and alcohol.

He confirmed a further one-year freeze on public sector pay — including the wages of ministers.

And he admitted that pension employee contributions will have to be raised for teachers, NHS, police and fire schemes despite his party's objection to the UK Government measure.

Mr Swinney told MSPs his review fell at a ''defining moment'' against the backdrop of ''savage reductions'' from Westminster.

But he said the new parliamentary majority allowed a ''decisive shift'' to preventative spending measures, which will see the state intervening earlier in social issues.

Explicitly linking the move to the new business tax, he added: ''Scotland's health and social problems associated with alcohol and tobacco use are well documented and are something we are firmly committed to addressing.

''These problems affect not only the health of the population, but create additional burdens on policing, local authorities and the NHS.''

But Ian Shearer, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, attacked the tax, saying: ''This ... is a blatant fundraising exercise which is illogical and discriminatory.''

However, it was welcomed by Andy Willox, of the Federation of Small Businesses, who said: ''Moves to make large out-of-town retailers pay a more proportionate level of rates will be welcomed by many of our members on the high street.''

Mr Swinney said ''tough choices'' were needed to balance the books, calling for further savings in public services.

Confirming the public sector pay freeze for the coming year, he hoped it would be the last before ''modest increases.''

Any employee earning less than £21,000 will continue to receive at least a £250 rise in their salary.

Mr Swinney also confirmed the measure of switching more than £750 million from the Scottish resource budget to the capital budget in an attempt to stimulate economic growth.

Labour's finance spokesman Richard Baker said: ''If councils are to meet the costs of the SNP's pledges, it will mean more council workers losing their jobs, further cuts in service and the evidence of the last parliament is that education and social work budgets will be particularly badly hit.''

Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said the SNP was failing to ''match rhetoric with reality,'' while Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie defended the spending decisions taken by the UK Government.

Health Advocates Propose Raising MO Cigarette Tax

2011-09-22T11:25:00.001+03:00

It's an issue that gets people on both sides fired up. Should Missouri raise its cigarette tax? Voters may soon get another chance to weigh in as the proposal could make it on the ballot for the November 2012 general election.

Missouri currently has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. It's something health advocates want to change by raising the tax by 80 cents a pack.

"It's people's choice to smoke", said Jeremy Pierce of Jackson.

With the proposed increase, the cigarette tax could jump from 17 cents to 97 cents.

"That's ridiculous," said Pierce. "They want to charge us more for something we've been doing for years."

Many smokers cross the state line to buy Vogue cigarettes like Lawrence Jackson from Anna.

"In Illinois they increased the tax and were supposed to use money for certain things and haven't done it", said Jackson.

If voters approve this initiative, reportedly 50-percent of the money generated would go to elementary and secondary education.

30-percent would go to colleges and universities to train healthcare workers, and 20-percent would go toward tobacco prevention and programs to help people quit smoking.

"If they use the tax increase for what they say it's for I'm all for it," said Gail Gant of Marble Hill." I don't smoke, but I'm all for it."

According to the American Cancer Society, Missouri spends about $2 billion a year on healthcare linked to smoking.

The American Cancer Society also says bout 21-percent of Missourians smoke. Health advocates predict that number will drop if it costs more to light up.

"In every state that has ever introduced this kind of legislation has seen a decrease in the number of youth who start smoking," said Sheri House-Community Manager/Health Initiative American Cancer Society.

In a state where similar measures have failed in the past, once again it's up to voters.

"The first one to jump on is the smokers and it's not fair," said Lawrence Jackson.

"If they don't want to pay it, don't smoke," said Gail Gant.

Voters took up this issue back in 2002 and 2006.

Both times it was pretty close in Cape Girardeau County.

In 2002 on Proposition A in Cape County, 9, 761 people voted yes and 12, 290 voted no.

In 2006 on Amendment 3 in Cape County, 12, 989 voted yes and 14, 981 voted no.

If approved, the tax hike is expected to generate about $308 million a year in new revenue.

According to Sheri House with the American Cancer Society, the language in the proposition will need to be approved by the Secretary of State. House says that is something that could take up to 30 days. After approved, health advocates supporting this measure would begin gathering signatures.

Hospital Will Not Hire Those Who Use Tobacco Products

2011-09-22T11:15:00.001+03:00

Administrators at a hospital in Searcy say you can't light up and work for them. Effective October 1, the White County Medical Center will not hire people who smoke or use tobacco products. Current employees will be grandfathered in under the new policy.

This change is in an effort for all employees to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Not only is tobacco products not allowed, but cafeteria menu items are also changing.

Brenda Engle, the Director of Health Works at WCMC says by doing this, they are hoping to address the two biggest issues, smoking, and obesity. "As a health care facility we believe this is the right thing for us to do for our employees"

She along with other administrators have been working to make the atmosphere around the hospital a healthier one. About 200 employees use tobacco.

"For me I'm allergic to smoke, and it bothers me when I'm near someone who smokes. I can't be around them. so it's going to be positive change for me. I know for some it will be negative but we're trying to embrace it and it's all for a healthy change for our hospital", says Cassandra Feltrop, Executive Director of the hospital Foundation.

The hospital already conducts random drug testing on their associates. After October 1, a nicotine screening will be added. So if a new hire uses tobacco in the privacy of their own home or is using a patch or gum to kick the habit and tests positively, Feltrop says they will lose their job. "They will be terminated. After that date, the policy states they will be terminated from the hospital. We will no longer hire smoking associates."

The cafeteria is being revamped too. Fresh, new, healthier food choices will be offered including a fruit bar. All in an effort to help their employees live a more healthier lifestyle.

Call to bar alcohol and tobacco from TPP

2011-09-12T13:56:00.001+03:00

Trans Pacific Partnership negotiators have been told to exclude alcohol and tobacco from any agreement.

The executive vice-president of the American Medical Association (AMA) James Madara wrote to US trade representative Ron Kirk urging the exclusion of tobacco and alcohol products from all provisions of TPP and any other free trade agreement.

“Removing trade barriers may be a desirable objective when the products being traded are beneficial, but tobacco is not a beneficial product,” Mr Madara said.

“Cigarettes are the only legally available consumer product that kills through its intended normal use.”

The letter cited longstanding AMA policy that “international trade agreements recognise that health and public health concerns take priority over commercial interests, and that trade negotiations be conducted in a transparent manner and with full attention to health concerns and participation by the public health community’’.

The exclusion would prevent actions like that of cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris, which has sued the governments of Uruguay and Australia for their tobacco control policies.

It would also mean intellectual property rules would not apply to tobacco and alcohol trademarks, and governments would not be required to reduce their current tariffs on imports, Professor Jane Kelsey, associate dean from the Auckland University law school said. Prof Kelsey was at the TPP negotiations in Chicago.

Oral problems trigger tobacco use

2011-09-12T13:54:00.002+03:00

On World Oral Health Day here's a startling revelation.

Oral health problems could serve as a trigger leading people to take to tobacco consumption. A recent study shows that while tobacco consumption causes oral health problems, it also works the other way round.

“The objective of the study was to discover if oral health related problems like toothache, ulcers, mobility of teeth, sensitivity of teeth and bad breath lead to tobacco use among individuals,” said Dr Mubeen, Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute (GDCRI).

The study was done by GDCRI in association with the Department of Community Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) as part of the project Quit Tobacco India, to identify the various causes that serve as triggers to tobacco addiction.

“We found that significant numbers of patients started or increased the habit of tobacco use, particularly the smokeless form, due to oral problems. Patients tend to either chew the product or pack the area with tobacco to achieve relief from pain,” said Dr Riyaz Basha, associate professor, community medicine, BMCRI.

Many of those in the study claimed that that tobacco consumption distracted them from their oral health problem or gave relief from pain.

“Most of them tried tobacco products on the suggestion of friends and relatives to reduce the pain. It was also observed that many patients who used tobacco products for relief from oral problems, continued the habit even when they were relived of the pain, which suggests that they were addicted to the tobacco products,” said Dr Jigna V. Raja, one of the investigators involved in this study.

She said that this study was an eye-opener for the team because they realised that people with oral health problems are vulnerable to getting addicted to tobacco. “So, we are planning to include anti-tobacco counselling sessions for all oral health patients because we know that they are prone to acquiring this addiction,” added Dr Jigna.

While it is a fact that tobacco addiction leads to oral, and of course other, health problems, this study proves that the other way round also happens and is common amongst many patients.

Paula Holmes-Greeley: State needs meeting of minds on pot

2011-08-29T15:09:00.001+03:00

There's no other way to describe it, Michigan is schizophrenic about marijuana.
Voters clearly want marijuana available for medical use, but local officials, politicians, law enforcement agencies and many in the medical community appear to be uncomfortable with the new law.
And there's no shortage of reasons why, starting with loopholes in the law that some critics say essentially legalize the drug.
For three years, officials and marijuana supporters have been debating how to implement the law with marijuana dispensaries or clubs sprouting in our communities while officials use moratoriums and develop zoning ordinances to ban them. Many communities, including Muskegon Township, are in court to stop dispensaries from operating. And the state Supreme Court will hear two cases on the issue this fall.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 Michigan residents have registered as medical marijuana users but many are afraid to be identified as such. Additionally, those “caregivers” who grow marijuana under the law to provide to others are in danger of arrest both from the state and the federal governments.
So what's it going to be? Can Michigan residents use marijuana to relieve nausea, increase appetite and deal with pain, or not?
All of this was brought to a head last week by an appeals court ruling that banned medical marijuana sales at a facility in Mount Pleasant and prompted the estimated 400 to 500 dispensaries in Michigan to shut down or risk being treated like criminals. But I've been thinking about this issue since a former high school classmate shared her story.
She has developed fibromyalgia, which is quite painful. She was uncomfortable with the narcotic painkillers she had been prescribed and was looking for alternatives. Although she had never used marijuana in her life, she decided to give pot a try.
She dutifully collected her medical records and took them to a “dispensary” in a seedy part of Lansing to start the process to be a registered user. As she sat in the waiting room, she realized that no one else seemed to have any medical records with them or appeared to be sick. And they all seemed to be quite a bit younger than her, college students she thought.
When it was her turn, the “doctor” took a cursory look at her records, took her hundred bucks and she was good to go. She ended her story by saying that after that experience she never used marijuana, it seemed criminal, she said as she showed us her official looking registered user's card.
I didn't tell her that a Michigan court had recently ruled that all records of Michigan medical marijuana users had to be turned over to the federal government, which does treat marijuana use as a crime.
I'm not ready to join fellow Chronicle columnist Steve Gunn in calling for the legalization of marijuana for all uses. But his argument is making more and more sense.
Are the long-term effects of marijuana any worse than those of beer, wine and liquor, which are legal? If marijuana was legalized would Michigan immediately turn into a state of potheads? What about all the money spent on what appears to be a losing battle in the war on drugs? In this economy there are many competing uses for such huge sums.
Gov. Rick Snyder wouldn't go there when the Chronicle Editorial Board asked him about the issue, not even to talk about the potential economic benefits of taxing marijuana sales. “It's my job to enforce the laws of the state,” he told us. “The voters clearly want medical marijuana, but that's not my issue. That's not why I ran. I'm focused on jobs and kids.”
And that's where our focus should be. The distraction and expense of the medical marijuana debate does nothing to create jobs nor does it help patients who should be having a legitimate discussion under the law with their doctors instead of being forced to skulk around like criminals.

Woman asked for ID pulls out marijuana

2011-08-29T15:08:00.000+03:00

Police say they asked a 29-year-old woman for identification. They say she pulled out a bag of marijuana. They threw her in jail.
Clearwater police say the woman was sitting in a car in a hotel parking lot at 3 a.m. Saturday when an officer approached and asked what she was doing. She told them she was talking to her boyfriend and thinking about renting a room.
The officer asked for her ID card and police say she went into her purse and pulled out the card along with a bag of pot, which she quickly tried to hide.
The officer saw it, however, and searched her purse. Police say it contained painkillers and sedatives. She was arrested on drug charges.
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Tobacco vends flourish in prohibited areas

2011-08-29T14:55:00.002+03:00

Sale and consumption of tobacco may be banned within 100 yards of premises of educational institutes, but a look around the cityscape reveals an alarming number of vendors selling cigarettes and other tobacco products within the restricted zone outside schools and colleges across Noida.

Most of the vends have been found to be operating outside educational institutes in sectors 12, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39 and 126. A number of kiosks have been set up in the vicinity of many hospitals. "Under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, selling tobacco products within 100 yards of school and college premises as well as medical institutions is prohibited," said a senior officer of the district administration. Moreover, schools and colleges are supposed to inform of any violation, but authorities allege they hardly receive any complaints.

The administration also claims that on its part they have been carrying out various campaigns to discourage tobacco use amongst youth. The most recent one has been setting up of an 'anti-smoking cell' that will penalize those who have a habit of smoking in public places. "Schools should make sure there are no shops within 100 yards of the their premises. School heads are supposed to inform authorities if shops near the school are found selling cigarettes," said a member of the district 'anti-smoking cell'. Local residents say that when they complain the kiosks are removed, but after a few days they come back. "Vendors close to educational institutions need to stop selling tobacco products, failing which they need to be taken to task very strictly," said a concerned parent residing in sector 17.

Australia plans cigarette brand ban

2011-08-29T14:51:00.002+03:00

Australia is a step closer to becoming the first nation to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

Two bills have been passed by Parliament in the lower house, and are now heading to the upper house. If they receive smooth passage, as is expected, it will pave the way for a ban on tobacco companies using product branding.

The overall aim is to reduce smoking rates, which cost the country 31.5 billion Australian dollars (£20.3 billion) annually in healthcare and lost productivity costs.

Under the proposals, planned to be introduced next year, all cigarette packages in Australia will be free of logos. Instead, the brand name will be printed in a plain font.

All packets would also be the same colour, olive green, with graphic health warnings included.

Health minister Nicola Roxon said the move is a "courageous first step" by Parliament.

Tobacco companies have reacted angrily to the plans. Ms Roxon said the companies would have to live with it, while health charities pointed out that packs are designed to be attractive and communicate the "personality" of a brand, and that just as designer products are social cues to style, status, values and character, cigarettes can be "badge products".

"There isn't any safe amount of tobacco that you can smoke. It will kill you eventually and we obviously want to make sure that that message is heard loud and clear," said Ms Roxon.

Robin Hewings, Cancer Research UK's tobacco control policy manager, welcomed the news.

"It is great news that all Australian political parties have voted for cigarettes to be put in plain packs," he said.

"The current packs are attractive to teenagers unlike new unbranded packaging in a standard colour with prominent health warnings. The Government is planning to consult on plain packaging for the UK so we should follow Australia's lead as soon as possible."

‘Tobacco ads lure teens by linking smoking with sports’

2011-08-22T13:33:00.001+03:00

Tobacco manufacturers are using a variety of advertising methods to lure young schoolchildren and teenagers into taking up smoking, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health. This includes trying to associate smoking with sports and good times, he added.
Al-Rabeah said tobacco advertisers often resort to selling a lifestyle and image to market their products. He said advertisements geared toward young women focus on ideas of being liberated and in control, while at the same time taking advantage of insecurities over body image.
He said other advertisers have been known to use statistics and “pseudo-science” to create the impression that smoking is safe, and to enhance the credibility of their products. Also, tobacco advertisements feed the misconception that every smoker has lots of fun while doing it. Images of happy smokers in restaurants and in the “great outdoors” reinforce the connection between smoking and good times.
Al-Rabeah said most cigarette companies have long used pictures of healthy pursuits in cigarette advertisements to foster smoking as an acceptable, healthy lifestyle. These advertisements want consumers to associate smoking with outdoor sports and recreational activities such as tennis, bicycling and horseback riding.
He said all studies have proven that smoking causes a great deal of damage to women’s beauty. Studies on the effects of nicotine shows that smoking ages skin faster than anything else apart from the sun.
He said smoking affects women worse than men. The nicotine in cigarettes is more addictive for women and they have much greater difficulty quitting than men as a result. Moreover women smokers have twice the additional risk of heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer than men who smoke.
Al-Rabeah said smoking exerts such a noticeable effect on the skin that it is often possible to detect whether or not a person is a smoker simply by looking at his or her face. Smokers have more wrinkles and their skin tends to have a grayish pallor compared to non-smokers.
A questionnaire sent to 600 female university students in different parts of the Kingdom showed that half of them do not want to marry a smoker. A total of 20 percent said they would require their prospective husbands to quit before agreeing to marry.

Employers tie lower health plan premiums to tobacco screening

2011-08-22T13:31:00.001+03:00

Chris Evans wants to qualify for a health plan with a lower deductible next year.

So the St. Paul man spent five minutes this week with a toothbrush-shaped swab tucked between his cheek and gums as part of a tobacco-use screening test at United Hospital.

The swab collected a saliva sample that will be analyzed to see if the 35-year-old is a smoker. A negative test result means Evans and his wife could save as much as $600 annually in health plan costs, an incentive that leaves a better taste in his mouth than the screening test did.

"It tastes like Alka-Seltzer or something," said Evans, who receives health benefits through his wife's Allina health system job. "It's really weird."

This year, Allina joins a national trend of companies that are linking eligibility for lower-cost health plans to results from tobacco screening tests. While some laud such programs for discouraging tobacco use, there also are concerns about a slippery slope.

"Tobacco would be the one risk factor I wouldn't mind getting draconian about," said Paul Terry, chief executive officer of StayWell Health Management, a St. Paul-based company that develops health promotion programs for employers. "But if you take that approach with smokers, will it logically follow that it's OK to do the same for people who are obese or people at risk of developing diabetes? What about people who participate in risky sports?

"It's never-ending in terms of the possibilities."

Colo. board to review dissolving tobacco products

2011-08-15T13:31:00.001+03:00

The Colorado Board of Health will hold a public hearing to discuss health concerns over new dissolvable tobacco products being test-marketed in the state.

Some of the new dissolvable tobacco products resemble breath mints and strips, health officials said Friday. Counties throughout Colorado have reported seeing the new products in local stores.
Board president Laura Davis says the hearing Aug. 17 will focus on the new product packaging and flavoring.

"The public health concern is that the composition, packaging and flavoring may have a particular appeal to kids," Davis said.

Davis said the board set a precedent for intervening in marketing and sales in 1989 when it adopted a resolution opposing the marketing and sale of new tobacco products.

The health department says Colorado research has shown children have easy access to tobacco products, with nearly half the children who purchased tobacco illegally telling officials they were not asked to show any proof of age.

Man in clown wig robs tobacco shop

2011-08-15T13:29:00.002+03:00

A gunman wore a clown wig when he robbed a Portage Road smoke shop, police said.

A store clerk told police the man walked into Smokes For Less in the 1400 block of Portage Road Thursday morning at about 9:20 asking, “Is the old man here?”

The man - a black male in his 30s, 6 feet tall, wearing a red shirt, jeans, white tennis shoes and an orange, reddish curly wig - then walked behind the counter, police said.
When the clerk said nobody was allowed behind the counter, the man allegedly pulled out a silver pistol and ordered the clerk to open the cash register.

The gunman allegedly forced the clerk to hold a black plastic bag open while he took money out of the register and put it in the bag, then said, “Don’t move or I will you shoot you.”

He then grabbed three cartons of cigarettes and fled the store with the stolen loot, police said.

Super Fund caught investing in tobacco

2011-08-15T13:26:00.001+03:00

The Green Party has caught the New Zealand Superannuation Fund investing in tobacco, failing once again to live up to their own self-imposed standards as a responsible investor.

A parliamentary written question today revealed that the New Zealand Superannuation Fund holds 80,000 shares in Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd - a company involved in the manufacture of tobacco - despite a promise from the Fund to divest from tobacco-related industries in 2007.

"The Super Fund directors have acknowledged their oversight, but their long record of complacency towards ethical investment makes it no surprise that they have been caught investing in tobacco," said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

"The Fund directors have been caught out previously for unethical investment behaviour after it was revealed they were profiting from the whaling industry and the cluster munitions industry.

"This is not a professional way to manage a $19 billion investment fund and risks serious damage to our reputation as a responsible member of the world community.

"I hope the directors will now reconsider their position of continuing to invest in and profit from the nuclear weapons industry."

The Superfund currently has a $2.1 million investment in Larsen & Toubro, India's largest defence engineering company, involved in the manufacture of a fleet of nuclear-armed submarines.

"Our Super Fund should be nuclear free," said Dr Norman.

The decision to divest from tobacco created a strong precedent. Tobacco is not an illegal product, but the Super Fund directors ruled in 2007 that investment in this sector was inconsistent with our responsible investment standards. Their decision was based on 'product safety issues' and New Zealand's commitment to specific international conventions, namely the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

"We are a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and I suspect there are obvious 'product safety issues' with nuclear weapons. The bottom line is, we should have nothing to do with investing in this immoral industry," Dr Norman said.

Transcript of Written Question #06011, dated August 2, 2011:

Question: What is the value in New Zealand dollars, if any, of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund's investment in Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd?

Finance Minister, Hon Bill English: As at 1 August 2011, the Fund had 80,000 shares in Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd, with a NZD value of approximately $333,000.

The Fund has also responded with the following statement: "We are aware that Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd has a private subsidiary, Nanyang Brothers Tobacco, which is a manufacturer of tobacco. Nanyang Brothers does not issue securities and so is not tradeable. Nevertheless, since 2007 we have had in place a policy of excluding companies whose activities include the manufacture or production of tobacco. To date we have used several different screening methods to ensure our portfolio exclusions are complied with. All of these screening methods involve the use of industry classifications. Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd is an example of a company which, because it is involved in a broad range of activities including tobacco, it is classified as an industrial conglomerate and so is not captured by the screening process. We were aware of this issue and have recently completed a project to broaden our screening methodology to resolve it. This has grown the number of companies on our tobacco exclusions list. Pending circulation to our external investment managers, the expanded list will be available on the Fund's website - as the current list has been since 2007 - by 30 August. The list will include Shanghai Industrial Holdings Ltd. We have often said that our Responsible Investment programme relies on a number of sources of information, including third parties with interests in Responsible Investment matters, such as the Green Party. As such, we appreciate such matters being brought to our attention."

New tobacco products pose old danger to young people

2011-08-15T13:24:00.003+03:00

Snus, orbs, sticks, strips, oh my! What are these, you might ask? Some of the new and creative ways tobacco companies are targeting a new generation to become dependent on nicotine. Recently, with the help of local youth from the Holland, Grand Haven and Hudsonville areas we took a look at some of the new and emerging trends in tobacco here in Ottawa County.

What did we find? After visiting 17 venues, including gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores and convenience stores, we found of course many of the age-old tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, chew, etc. But we also found some of the new, emerging tobacco products. Among the most popular was snus, a product similar to chew/spit tobacco. Snus is a smokeless tobacco product, packaged in little pouches that can be placed in the mouth or in some cases swallowed — very much like chew/spit tobacco, but without the mess. It is sold in a variety of flavors like “winterchill” and “frost,” flavors that remind me of chewing gum intended to freshen your breath, with tag lines like “bar friendly” and “enjoy anytime, anywhere, it’s limitless.”

As communities stand together committed to smoke free environments, the tobacco companies are changing their tactics, marketing these new products as “smoke-free” and as “safer” alternatives to smoking. But what they are really doing is just filling our minds, and especially the minds of youth, with a lot of smoke.

Tobacco companies market ‘orbs’ lower doses of nicotine

2011-08-15T13:13:00.002+03:00

Bite-sized dissolvable “orbs” that look like breath mints and melt in your mouth are the tobacco industry’s latest attempt to fight falling U.S. cigarette sales.

Charlotte is one of two test markets for Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American Inc.’s newest products: dissolvable, smokeless tobacco lozenges that come as orbs, sticks or strips.

The products all contain less nicotine than cigarettes, between 0.5 and 3 milligrams instead of 12 to 15. And, Reynolds spokesman David Howard said, they meet a “societal expectation.”

“There’s no secondhand smoke, no spitting and no cigarette butt litter,” Howard said.

But health officials still worry about the risks of smokeless options. Smokeless tobacco users may not get lung cancer, health experts say, but they risk mouth cancer, gum disease and tooth loss. Prenatal dangers for pregnant women also still exist.

“There are no safe tobacco products,” said Matt Carpenter, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina who is researching the effect of smokeless products on smoking habits.

Huntersville, N.C., resident Joey Hodge, who has smoked for almost five years, sees the appeal of smokeless products that won’t be as tough on his lungs or make him smell like smoke. But the 20-year-old isn’t sold on Reynolds’s newest offering.

“They were definitely not the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted,” Hodge said. Plus, he added, the products “really didn’t do much” to satisfy his nicotine craving.

Hodge’s reaction isn’t the sort tobacco makers are hoping for. As cigarette sales slide because of the health risks and social stigma, tobacco companies are counting on smokers like Hodge to fuel the new smokeless market. The dissolvable products sell for about $2 for a 12-pack _ comparable, Reynolds says, to its other smokeless products.

“They can enjoy tobacco pleasure without bothering others and without having to leave the workplace, or the restaurant or the bar,” Howard said.

Analysts say new laws banning cigarettes in public places, like the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars that took effect in North Carolina last January, are among the factors driving a steep decline in cigarette sales.

“In recent years you’ve seen smoking banned in most states in most bars and restaurants. That kind of takes away the fun,” said Phil Gorham, industry analyst for investment firm Morningstar.

In its second-quarter earnings report last month, Reynolds reported the number of cigarettes sold in the U.S. fell 4.4 percent. Gorham said companies like Reynolds can combat falling sales by increasing prices in the short term, but they’ll eventually need to diversify revenues.

While American sales of cigarettes drop 3-4 percent every year, the market for smokeless products grew 3 percent in 2009 and 7 percent in 2010, said Mary Gotaas, tobacco industry analyst for researcher IBISWorld. This year, smokeless sales are expected to jump 8 percent, Gotaas said.

While Reynolds is testing its new dissolvables, Richmond, Va.-based rival Philip Morris has its own product in the works: a dissolvable tobacco stick.

The growth of smokeless products worries some public health advocates who think the new products appeal to children. During the first round of testing , the orbs’ packaging resembled Tic-Tacs, creating concern that children might confuse them with candy, said John Spangler, professor of family health and community medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

For this round of testing, there’s larger packaging and new warnings. Packages now say “This product contains nicotine and is for adult tobacco consumers only” and “There is no safe tobacco product,” in addition to one of four required FDA warnings.

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee of the FDA is holding hearings exploring the implications of smokeless products. Right now, all tobacco products must be age-restricted and kept behind the counter, just like cigarettes.

Warning labels on smokeless tobacco products must cover at least 30 percent of the packaging and every product must carry one of four messages: “Smokeless tobacco is addictive,” “This product can cause mouth cancer,” “This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss,” or “This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.”

Cigarette shares slide on speculation of hike in excise duty on tobacco products

2011-08-04T16:35:00.002+03:00

ITC (down 1.48%), Godfrey Phillips India (down 1%), VST Industries (down 1.48%) and Golden Tobacco (down 0.07%), edged lower.
The BSE Sensex was up 58.16 points or 0.32% at 17,998.71.
According to reports, the government will take a decision to hike excise duty on tobacco products at the end of the Parliament session because price rise is a politically sensitive issue. The excise duty rate on cigarettes currently varies depending on the length of the cigarette.

Gas station gunman steals money and cigarettes

2011-08-04T16:31:00.000+03:00

Police are looking for the man who robbed a Shell Station in eastern Henrico County.

Police say on Monday, August 1, at 10:34 p.m., a man carrying a long barrel revolver robbed the Shell Station at 2707 Williamsburg Road of money and cigarettes.

Police describe the robber as a black male, 28-35 years of age, 5'8", 160-180, and medium complexion. Police say he was wearing a black shirt and gray sweat pants during the robbery.

Cigarette smoking ignites South Austin house fire

2011-08-04T16:30:00.001+03:00

Officials with the Austin Fire Department say a house fire in South Austin Wednesday morning was caused by an occupant smoking cigarettes near an open oxygen cylinder.
Firefighters responded to the home on Mockingbird Lane around 10:30 a.m. Fire crews had to work around some fallen power lines, but had it out in about 20 minutes.

No one was hurt, but two people were taken to the hospital to be evaluated. One person suffered minor injuries.

With the drought, officials are urging people to keep the area near their homes clear of brush so fires don't spread.

Damages are estimated at $75,000 in structure and $50,000 contents.

Suspect charged in fatal stabbing over pack of cigarettes

2011-08-04T16:26:00.001+03:00

Authorities have identified a suspect in a fatal stabbing Monday night that apparently began with an argument over a pack of cigarettes at a group home in northeast Houston.
Jarvis De-Allo Leverett, 35, is charged with murder in the death of Arthur Lee Washington, 52, in the 9200 block of Kerry Glen Circle about 7:30 p.m., according to the Houston Police Department.
Officers said Washington died at the scene.
Leverett is being held in the Harris County jail without bail, according to county records.
Houston police said two men, later identified as Leverett and Washington, began arguing about 3:30 p.m. at the group home where they lived.
Both men have been diagnosed as schizophrenic, police added.
Washington had asked Leverett to pick up a pack of cigarettes for him at the store, and was upset when Leverett returned with only half a pack, police said.
The pair reportedly argued for hours, then separated. When they met again later that night on the patio behind the house, the confrontation apparently escalated.
Police said Leverett came at Washington with a knife and stabbed him after a brief chase through the backyard.
A caretaker at the group home disarmed Leverett and called police.
Responding officers quoted Leverett as saying, "The guy kept messing with me."

Tublay passes tobacco ordinance

2011-07-26T14:10:00.001+03:00

In order to promote a healthful environment and to protect the constituents of the municipality from the hazards of tobacco smoke, a balanced policy on the use, sale, advertisement and distribution of tobacco products was proposed.

The ordinance known as the “Smoke Free Ordinance of the Municipality” aims to safeguard public health and ensure the well being of all its constituents by protecting them from harmful effects of smoking and tobacco consumption.
The proponent also cited the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (RA No. 9211) which prohibits smoking in certain public places whether enclosed or outdoors; prohibits the purchase and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products from and to minor and in certain places frequented by minors; imposes bans and restrictions on advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities of tobacco companies; and directs local government units to implement these provisions.

The country’s Clean Air Act 0f 1999 also declares the right of citizens to breathe clean air, prohibits smoking inside enclosed public places including vehicles and other means of transport, and direct local governments to implement this provision.

The ordinance will be applied in public places like centers of youth activity including schools, recreational facilities for persons under eighteen years old and will include but not limited to playgrounds; elevators and stairwells; locations which are fire hazards specifically gas stations and storage of flammable liquids; buildings and premises of public and private hospitals, and health centers; public conveyances and public transportation facilities; and food preparation areas.

The designated area for smoking must be fully separated from smoke free area by continuous floor to ceiling or floor to solid partitions which are interrupted only by doors equipped with door closers, and which must be constantly closed except when a person is entering or exiting the area.

Moreover, the ordinance states the sale or distribution to, as well as the purchase from, any minor or cigarettes and other tobacco products is absolutely prohibited. In case of doubts as to the age of the buyer, retailers will verify, by means of any valid form of identification paper containing both the photograph and the date of birth of the bearer that the buyer is at least eighteen years old. Further, ignorance of real age is not a defense.

Cigarettes, oxygen tanks sparked fatal blaze

2011-07-20T16:51:00.003+03:00

A woman killed in a fire at her northeast Spokane home died of smoke in inhalation after a cigarette smoke ignited her oxygen tanks, fire officials said Monday.

Inez L. Williams, 67, had oxygen flowing when fire consumed her home at 4128 E. Providence Ave. Friday about 2 p.m., said Brian Schaeffer, assistant fire chief.

Fire officials ruled the accidental fire was caused by “careless smoking” with medical oxygen, Schaeffer said.

Firefighters fought through heavy flames and smoke and were hit with fragments from pressured oxygen tanks exploding in the blaze, which also killed several dogs and cats.

“They all truly did everything they could to reach her,” Schaeffer said, but the blaze was not survivable.

“The story is all too familiar and just as tragic,” he said. This fatality and all of the other ones where a fire is responsible for someone dying in a residence is preventable by installing working sprinkler systems combined with alerting systems (smoke detectors).”

Friends and family described Williams as an animal lover who had lived at the property for decades.

Raiders steal 1,000 boxes of cigarettes in Smallfield store break-in

2011-07-20T16:50:00.001+03:00

Thousands of pounds' worth of cigarettes were stolen in a night-time break-in at a store in Smallfield.

The cigarettes, worth an estimated £5,000, were stolen by a gang of burglars who forced their way into the Co-Op store in Redehall Road.

Detectives believe up to five raiders entered the shop last Wednesday (July 13) between 11.20pm and 11.40pm.

One burglar broke in, and once having got into the store, was joined by the rest of the gang who had got out of a black or grey Peugeot 307, which stopped directly outside the shop.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said the gang took about 1,000 boxes of cigarettes.

Officers were this week reviewing CCTV footage from cameras inside the store, and were talking to witnesses.

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Investigating officer Detective Constable Kerry Akehurst said: "A number of witnesses have already come forward and were spoken to by officers at the scene.”

Det Con Akehurst said: “It is crucial anyone else who witnessed the burglary unfold, or perhaps who saw the Peugeot 307 in the area before or after the incident, comes forward.”

She said: "This is not the first time the store has been burgled, and it follows a similar burglary at a Co-Op in Bookham on Friday, July 1.

“Surrey Police is working closely with the Co-Op and colleagues in neighbouring Forces, and it is vital we catch this group of offenders.”

She continued: "CCTV from the store is being viewed, but I appeal to members of the community to come forward with any information they have which will help my investigation.”

She added: "Those responsible for this burglary will need to sell their stolen wares, therefore if you know someone selling cheap cigarettes, or you are offered them for sale, please think twice and report it to an officer, as they may have originated from this offence."

The first raider who broke into the store was a white man, who was about 6ft tall and of muscular build.

He was wearing a dark coloured balaclava, a dark grey hooded top and dark trousers.

The other suspects were all wearing dark coloured hooded tops and dark trousers. They had their faces concealed by a balaclava, except one suspect who had a scarf wrapped around his head.

Youth gets jail for murder attempt over cigarettes

2011-07-20T16:48:00.001+03:00

He tried to kill his friend because he was refused cigarettes. A trial court has sentenced a youth to a three-year jail term for trying to kill his friend with the help of two others.

District judge S K Sarvaria also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on North West Delhi resident Aman Sethi, who often used to borrow cigarettes from his friend Pankaj Kumar Jha but slashed his neck with a razor when told that his demands would no longer be met.

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Sethi tried to kill Jha with the help of two of his juvenile friends, who are undergoing separate trials at the Juvenile Justice Board.

The court awarded the jail term to Aman, dismissing his plea for leniency on the grounds that he was a young student.

Tobacco flea beetles a threat if not managed

2011-07-07T11:33:00.000+03:00

Most transplant insecticide applications for tobacco provide excellent control of tobacco flea beetles for the first three to four weeks that the crop is in the field.

After several years of using these treatments, it is easy to forget what can happen if preventive control is not used, and the crop is not checked for damage for some time.

Tobacco flea beetles can severely affect a tobacco crop in several areas of a field causing substantial damage before the infestations are detected.

Budworm and tobacco hornworm

Watch for budworm and tobacco hornworm infestations, especially in the earliest set fields. These are the ones generally selected by female moths for egg laying.

Both species spend the winter deep in the ground as pupae, so they are not affected by the severity of winter weather and have a good survival rate.

There are many options for worm control on tobacco, but infestations need to be caught early for best results.

Check randomly-selected plants scattered over the field. Budworms will be in the tops of plant, chewing small round holes in leaves and leaving coarse pepper-like droppings. An average of five live worms per 50 plants is enough to justify control. Avoid treating when high temperatures cause upper leaves to curl to protect plant buds. Curled upper leaves also protect feeding budworms.

The same five live worms per 50 plants is used for determining the need for hornworm treatments. These caterpillars will be found in the upper third of the plant.

(Source: Lee Townsend UK Extension Entomologist)

Watch tobacco fields closely

I have been seeing damage on several tobacco fields from budworm and hornworm feeding. Most producers will probably spray with Orthene 97 for control. The recommended rate is 0.75 lbs. per acre. Other options include Dipel, Warrior, Tracer and other pesticides. Beware of Endosulfan 3E, as some tobacco contracts prohibit its use. Always follow label directions and rates. Harvest intervals vary by product.

Keep eyes open for frog eye

As always, keep an eye out for frog eye and target spot on your tobacco this summer, and spray accordingly with Quadris.

Generally an eight-ounce per-acre rate will give effective control without leaf flecking.

A 10- to 14-day spray schedule may be needed if rainy periods set in.

Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Raids target illegal tobacco trade

2011-07-07T11:31:00.001+03:00

A MAJOR crackdown has been launched on peddlers of illegal tobacco in Blackpool.

Police and trading standards officers have raided homes and seized thousands of illegal cigarettes.

The latest came in Grange Park where two pensioners are suspected of being involved in a supply ring. Fears are growing contraband and counterfeit tobacco – often laced with toxic chemicals – is flooding into the town and ending up in the hands of smokers and children.

Tests on a shipment seized recently showed high levels of lead – up to six times higher than in normal tobacco.

The operation was mounted after Grange Park residents were sold packets of rancid smelling tobacco which caused sore throats and nausea.

The latest raid, at an address on Dinmore Avenue, netted 3,000 illegal cigarettes.

It is the second time the property and its residents – a 65-year-old man and his 66-year-old wife – have been visited by authorities.

Last September officers seized around 15,000 illegal cigarettes worth £7,000 and a further £2,500 cash.

Paul Crook, Blackpool Council’s public protection officer, said ‘fag houses’ and ‘community Robin Hoods’ were becoming more prevalent in the town.

He said: “You can find up to two or three houses on an estate selling counterfeit tobacco which has been imported from anywhere from Luxembourg, Belgium or Bulgaria.

“It’s a huge problem because these so-called community Robin Hoods are often the frontmen for a larger organisation which could be involved in serious crimes including drugs and sex trafficking.

“Not only that but we recently carried out test reports on a haul of tobacco which revealed levels of lead and cadmium up to six times higher than found in normal tobacco.”

MTSU stubs out campus tobacco

2011-07-07T11:25:00.001+03:00

As Middle Tennessee State University continues to position itself for the future and approaches its centennial celebration, it will join about 250 institutions of higher education across the country by declaring itself a tobacco-free campus.

Based on a recommendation by the university’s Environmental Health and Safety Committee, President Sidney A. McPhee recently revised current policy to create a tobacco-free campus, effective Jan. 1, 2012. The new policy will prohibit the use of all forms of tobacco anywhere on campus except in private vehicles.

Numerous reasons support enacting this policy. Most importantly, MTSU is committed to providing a healthy living, working and learning environment for its students, faculty and staff. The new policy will reduce harm from secondhand smoke and provide an atmosphere that encourages tobacco-free lifestyles.

The health risks of tobacco are well-known. The surgeon general’s report in 2006, which recognized that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure, was a watershed document for conversations surrounding creation of smoke-free and tobacco-free public spaces.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature illness and death, but science also shows the devastating effects of tobacco use can be reversed in time. It is anticipated that a tobacco-free campus will help motivate students and employees to quit using tobacco, potentially adding to the quality and duration of their lives and creating a protected space for non-users to avoid environmental exposure.

Becoming a tobacco-free campus will also add to the overall campus aesthetic. Brand-new buildings, pedestrian walkways and landscaping have enhanced the beauty of the MTSU campus, but the litter of cigarette butts and smokeless tobacco containers often can detract from the campus’ appearance. Creating a tobacco-free campus is one more stride that MTSU is taking to aid in the “greening” of the university that is desired by students and employees.

New Option For Tobacco Addiction In Holistic Market

2011-07-07T11:24:00.002+03:00

Holistic healers have long treated patients for tobacco addiction with beneficial in-office therapies, but there has never been a good product for use between office visits that didn't include nicotine replacement or pharmaceuticals, until now. Quit Tea LLC has partnered with Chiropractic Outfitters and K-Med Services to distribute Quit Tea, their natural stop smoking aid, to the chiropractic and acupuncture markets.
Since launching in May 2010, Quit Tea has been popular with chiropractors across the United States and Canada as a supplemental product to their holistic therapies, or as an option to recommend for tobacco addiction. Dr. Douglas Yost, a chiropractor in Shoreview Minnesota said, "my patients love the flavor of Quit Tea, have had decreased cravings to smoke, and will definitely continue using the tea to help them quit smoking."
The treatments performed by holistic healers include cold laser therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis, behavioral modification therapy, and nutrition. Quit Tea fits into this market of in-office therapies as an effective natural product that can be used in between sessions to greatly increase quitting success. Chiropractors want to be able to recommend and provide good natural products to their patients, and for smoking cessation, there are not many out there. Recently people have been turning to the holistic practices as an alternative to pharmaceutical products like Chantix, Zyban, and nicotine replacement products. These products can help, but are expensive, have many side effects, and often provide low rates of success.
There are over 49,000 chiropractors in the United States. Having chiropractors stock to resell or provide samples of Quit Tea to their patients helps create exposure and build credibility for Quit Tea as a serious smoking cessation aid. “We quickly realized there is a big opportunity in this market, which has been lacking good options,” said Matthew Bucklin, president of Quit Tea LLC.

Zimbabwe Tobacco Board Considering 20 Applications to Open Auction Floors

2011-07-07T11:17:00.001+03:00

Zimbabwe is considering at least 20 applications from companies wanting to start tobacco sales in the country as existing auction houses battle to cope with rising supplies from farmers.
“We are reviewing the applications,” said Andrew Matibiri, chief executive officer of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, which oversees the industry, by phone today from the capital, Harare. Zimbabwe currently has three auction floors, he said.
The southern African nation is trying to boost tobacco output, still below peak levels of about 236 million kilograms (520 million pounds) achieved in 2000, before President Robert Mugabe’sZimbabwe African National Union-Front party sponsored often-violent seizures of most white-owned farms.
Production slipped to as low as 58.6 million kilograms in 2009, reflecting the political and economic crisis that peaked during 2008. Output of the leaf may rise to about 170 million kilograms this season as more farmers grow the crop and as the nation’s “economic environment” improves, Matibiri said in an interview on Feb. 16.
“We have sold 120.9 million kilograms so far and judging by these figures it looks like we will end the season at around 145 million kilograms,” he said today. The quality of the leaf so far this season has “been really good.”
Zimbabwe has earned $331 million from tobacco sales so far this season, up from about $276 million at the same point last year, Matibiri said.
Zimbabwe is the world’s sixth-largest exporter of the flue- cured variety of the leaf, which is also known as Virginia tobacco. It lags behind Brazil, India, the U.S., Argentina and Tanzania, according to the website of Universal Corp., the world’s biggest tobacco-leaf merchant.

Give the Men Tobacco and Leave the Women Alone

2011-07-04T10:35:00.001+03:00

The most any writer can reasonably hope to gain for his troubles is a fair hearing in life and a little appreciation after he’s gone. Ernest Hemingway achieved the rare feat of becoming the world’s most famous novelist while he was still very much alive. For his trouble he received a Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature, and at least one good pot shot from most of the literary lights of his day.

William Faulkner attacked his simple, declarative sentences by saying “he has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” Vladimir Nabokov dismissed his overtly “masculine” subject matter as nothing more than “deep” boy stories. Gore Vidal, who hated everyone, seemed unable to forgive Hemingway for the way he treated older writers who had helped him get his start, namely Sherwood Anderson and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

As the 20th century drew to a close the P.C. brigade had added predictably and for good measure that he was a misogynist, a homophobe and a racist. By 1992, Hemingway was so deeply out of fashion that Frederick Busch of the New York Times felt the need to apologize for even admiring him, which he did in an unfortunate little article entitled, “Reading Hemingway Without Guilt.”

One thing even his critics never discounted, however, was the enormous influence his style had on other writers. This was already apparent in 1954 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for “his mastery of the art of narrative … and for the influence he has exerted on contemporary style.” Fifty years after his suicide on July 2, 1961, at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, it is taken for granted that Hemingway did more to change the style of English prose than any writer of the 20th century.

Until recently, I found this preoccupation with Hemingway’s style a bit off- putting. It seemed to imply a lack of substance — why else would all the focus be on his style? Thinking thus, I avoided him for the first several years of my reading life.

When I did finally decide to read Hemingway for myself, the first thing I noticed was that I didn’t notice his style. What stood out to me was not his tough, terse prose or his repeated use of “and” in place of commas, rather it was just how deeply substantive he was.

My favorite Hemingway short story provides a good illustration. In “The Butterfly and the Tank,” a man is killed in a crowded Madrid bar for playing a practical joke. This is the story, but it is not the point. The story begins, “On this evening I was walking home from the censorship office to the Florida Hotel and it was raining. So about halfway home I got sick of the rain and stopped into Chicote’s for a quick one. It was the second winter of the shelling in the siege of Madrid and everything was short including tobacco and people’s tempers and you were a little hungry all the time and would become suddenly and unreasonably irritated at things you could do nothing about such as the weather.”
Chicote’s is crowded; full of smoke, singing, laughter, men in uniform and the smell of wet leather coats. As the singing grows louder, a civilian in a brown suit squirts a waiter with a flit gun. Everyone laughs except the waiter, who is indignant. Delighted with his success, the man squirts the waiter twice more, lightheartedly. By now the music is dying down and three men in uniform grab the man and rush him out into the street where you hear the smack of a fist hitting his mouth. Moments later the man comes back into the bar. “He had the flit gun again and as he pushed, wide eyed and white faced into the room he made one general, unaimed, challenging squirt, holding it toward the whole company.” Almost immediately the man is pushed into a corner of the bar and shot.

When the narrator returns to Chicote’s the next day the manager solemnly informs him that “in the flit gun … he had eau de cologne. It was not a joke in such bad taste, you see?” As they ponder the previous night’s events, we learn that the man had bought the flit gun and cologne to use for a joke at a wedding and had announced his intention. He had bought them across the street. There was a label on the cologne bottle with the address. The bottle was in the wash room and it was there he had filled the flit gun. He had come into Chicote’s on account of the rain.

Eventually the manager, with his “relentless Spanish logic,” concludes that it was really just gaiety and that no one should have taken offense. “Listen,” said the manager, “How rare it is. His gaiety comes in contact with the seriousness of the war like a butterfly … like a butterfly and a tank.”

Ore. medical marijuana clinic manager convicted

2011-07-04T10:33:00.001+03:00

A southern Oregon woman who manages a clinic that helps people obtain medical marijuana cards has been convicted on drug manufacturing and delivery charges, The Daily Courier reported Friday.
Brenda Thomas, 44, was the manager of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation clinic in Grants Pass. The foundation, headed by longtime Portland marijuana activist Paul Stanford, has clinics in nine states, where doctors examine patients looking for state authorization to use pot to treat medical conditions.
A Josephine County jury deliberated for about an hour Thursday before convicting Thomas after a six-day trial that included testimony about medical marijuana growers regularly using the cover of providing medicine for patients to pile up hundreds of pounds of illegal weed they can sell on the black market at low risk of going to jail.
The case against Thomas began with an October 2009 traffic stop on Interstate 5 in neighboring Jackson County, where a Nevada couple was pulled over and told Oregon State Police they purchased marijuana from Thomas for $1,000.
Under Oregon's medical marijuana law, patients can have someone else grow pot for them, but growers cannot charge patients for the marijuana they produce. They can only collect for expenses, such as electricity and fertilizer.
Police later raided Thomas's home in Wilderville and seized more than 200 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $500,000.
During the trial, defense attorney Foster Glass attacked the motives of the lead investigator in the case, Grants Pass police Detective Ray Myers, a member of the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement team and a critic of the state's medical marijuana program.
Myers is still under investigation in a complaint filed last fall claiming that, while on the job, he campaigned while against a ballot measure to legalize marijuana dispensaries.
"He has a vendetta . to try to destroy the whole medical marijuana program," Glass said in his opening statement.
Meyers denied the allegation.
"The defense tried to make this into something personal I had against the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and that's not true,"?Myers told The Daily Courier on Friday. "The only thing I want, we want, is that people abide by the law."
Other large medical marijuana cases are pending in Josephine County, including three against men who are accused of dispensing marijuana from storefronts in Grants Pass. Myers played key roles in those busts.
Glass said he expected an appeal in the case.

Province targets tobacco industry

2011-07-04T10:30:00.001+03:00

The province is looking for some legal firepower to go after Big Tobacco.

Nova Scotia and Manitoba plan to join other provinces in trying to recoup health-care costs incurred from the 1950s to the 1980s, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Justice Minister Ross Landry says the industry must be held accountable for promoting tobacco use in the province.

"This matter is about the medical evidence that shows the substance was addictive, and there were issues with the tobacco companies in the disclosure of that information," he told reporters Thursday in Halifax. "And as a result of that action, people got addicted and illness and disease resulted in our society."

Nova Scotia and Manitoba plan to hire a legal firm with broad-based experience in tobacco-related law and the resources to take on the case.

Landry couldn’t say how much such a case could cost the province, or the amount being sought from the tobacco companies.

"We need to get a legal opinion on what the benefits are, what the costs are, and at that time we can make an evaluation as to the cost," he said.

The firm would be paid on a contingency basis — that is, only if the provinces were successful in recouping costs from the industry.

Heath and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald welcomed the move, noting that recouping health-care costs is part of the province’s new tobacco control strategy.

"Certainly from a financial point of view, it has an impact," MacDonald told reporters Thursday. "It diverts resources that perhaps we could put (elsewhere) if we didn’t have to do that. The human toll is not something you can put a price tag on."

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates smoking-related illnesses cost the province about $200 million each year.

Tobacco companies have in the past "wilfully misled" governments and consumers on the health effects of their product, said Nick Langley, manager of public issues for the society’s provincial division, after the announcement Thursday.

"I think there’s a need to get the truth on the matter and we look forward to the lawsuit, as other provinces have gone that route."

New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador are actively pursuing lawsuits. Quebec and Alberta have announced they’ll look into legal action.

N.H. Cigarette Tax to Decrease

2011-06-28T16:14:00.002+03:00

Smoking in New Hampshire is about to get a little less costly. Democratic Governor John Lynch has announced that he would let a $10.2 billion budget, which includes a 10-cent reduction in state cigarette taxes, become law without his signature, according to the Associated Press.

Lynch (pictured) said the budget does not account for up to $30 million in lost revenues, but said a veto would not lead to a better budget and could cause a government shutdown.

The state's current $1.78 state tax is also already lower than its neighbors: Maine ($2), Massachusetts ($2.51) and Vermont ($2.24). (Vermont's tax will increase 38 cents to $2.62 on July 1.)

According to research conducted by Southern New Hampshire University for the New Hampshire Grocers Association, a 10-cent-per-pack excise-tax reduction could mean $1.7 million more profit for the state's convenience stores, and $12.8 million more in cigarette excise and other taxes (such as business-profit and business-enterprise taxes).

John Dumais, president and CEO of the association, told Tobacco E-News, the companion publication of CSP Daily News, that purchases that might come along with people crossing the borders of New Hampshire to buy cigarettes could include gasoline, food, beverages and even hotel rooms.

"It's primarily to help business, but it ultimately helps the state, because when those cross-border sales come to New Hampshire, they buy a lot of other products," he said.

Irish 'pay most' for alcohol, tobacco

2011-06-28T16:14:00.001+03:00

Irish residents are paying 70 per cent more than the European Union average for alcohol and tobacco products, according to a study by statistics agency Eurostat.

Overall, people in Ireland are paying the fifth highest prices in the EU for consumer goods and services, with levels at their most expensive in Denmark and cheapest in Bulgaria.

On average, goods and services cost 18 per cent more here than in the UK. The largest differences between the two countries were in the prices of alcohol and tobacco (28 per cent more) and restaurants and hotel accommodation (26 per cent more).

Irish people are paying above EU average prices in four of the six categories, with both clothing and consumer electronics goods falling just below the 27 country average.

Irish residents face the second highest costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages, some 20 per cent more than the average, with Danish residents paying most and those in Romania and Bulgaria being charged just two thirds the EU average.

The cost of restaurants and hotels here was the joint third highest the EU, behind Denmark and Sweden and tied with Finland. Bulgarians paid 45 per cent of the EU average for these goods.

The cost of alcohol and tobacco products here was almost three times what people in Bulgaria and Romania pay, and 28 per cent higher than in the UK, which was found to have the second highest costs in the category.

“This large price variation is mainly due to differences in taxation of these products among member states,” Eurostat said.

Supreme Court Lets $270 Million Tobacco Award Stand

2011-06-28T16:07:00.001+03:00

Cigarette makers must pay to help smokers in Louisiana quit their habit, as the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by tobacco companies in a landmark class-action case.

By refusing to throw out a $270 million jury award, the high court put an end to a case that began in May 1996, when some 500,000 smokers in Louisiana filed a class-action suit against tobacco companies.

As the AP reports, "The smokers prevailed at every step in state courts, but Justice Antonin Scalia temporarily blocked payment of the money in September, citing concerns that the cigarette makers might have been deprived of their legal rights."

Tobacco regulation: Kneecapping the FDA

2011-06-17T11:43:00.002+03:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration barely had time to start regulating cigarettes before legislation was introduced to weaken its authority.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed in 2009 with sweeping majorities in both houses; its primary goal was to reduce the terrible toll that smoking takes on Americans' health, especially by discouraging young people from taking up the habit. The law gave the FDA the authority to regulate the advertising and packaging of cigarettes, along with ingredients such as nicotine and flavorings that affect how easily the public is drawn into smoking and how addictive the habit is once started. As required in the law, for example, the FDA banned candy flavorings in cigarettes, which make the product more appealing to underage smokers and young adults.
But now that the agency is taking meaningful steps against smoking, Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Montana) has added an amendment to the agriculture appropriations bill that would restrict the FDA's authority over cigarettes and a host of other matters. Currently, the FDA is considering whether to ban one of the most popular and profitable ingredients — menthol — but Rehberg's amendment would keep it from taking that action. No longer would the FDA be able to consider a substance's tendency to attract smokers or make cigarettes more addictive. Rather, the FDA could only ban or limit ingredients that are found to make the cigarette physically more harmful than existing products. Menthol has not been found to do that; it does its damage by drawing people into smoking and keeping them there. Menthol masks the flavor and irritation of cigarette smoke; menthol cigarettes are perceived by consumers as "light" or less dangerous, though they aren't. Studies have found that menthol makes it easier for young smokers to get started and harder for habitual smokers to stop. Unlike restrictions on fruit flavors, a ban on menthol could dramatically affect smoking rates — one-fourth of smokers prefer menthol brands — which is exactly why the tobacco industry is fighting any such restrictions.

In addition to the tobacco provisions, the law would limit the FDA's authority to reject new drugs as long as they had any benefit, even if they fell far short of promises or carried significant risks, and it would be unable to restrict the use of routine, preventive antibiotics in livestock, which has been identified as a significant source of drug-resistant bacteria. About 80% of the antibiotics in this country are used to promote growth in livestock and prevent epidemics from sweeping through herds and flocks under crowded conditions. The measure has been passed by the House Appropriations Committee.

Group honors anti-tobacco advocates

2011-06-17T11:41:00.001+03:00

The Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Action last week held its annual recognition dinner, honoring groups and individuals for their work in discouraging smoking and tobacco use.

“Your work is being effective and you should keep it up,” said Assemblyman Peter Lopez, who spoke to the group. “You are not telling people what to do with their lives, you are just educating them so they can make educated decisions.”

Director Karen dePeyster said there has been significant progress in the battle against smoking and tobacco use. In 1964, she said, nearly 50% of adults were smokers.

“Yesterday, we learned from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) the new smoking rates,” dePeyster said. “The national rate is now 17.9%, and the New York State rate is down to 15.5%. So fifty years ago, 4.5 people out of ten were smokers. Now, 1.5 in ten smoke.”

She also pointed out that something that seems so basic now – that smoking is not allowed in restaurants – was just a pipe dream a decade ago.

“Ten years ago, we were imagining what it would be like to go to a restaurant and not be assaulted by smoke,” dePeyster said. “In 2003, the New York State legislature passed the Clean Indoor Air Act, and now we all take it for granted.”

The ceremony’s guest speaker was Kim Alessi, a former tobacco representative for Philip Morris, the leading tobacco manufacturer. She outlined the billions of dollars the industry spends on marketing their product each year.

According to Alessi, tobacco companies spend $12.49 billion on marketing in the United States. Comparatively, junk food and soda companies spend $4.5 billion, and alcohol companies spend $3.13 billion.

And, she said, the companies may deny it, but they do market to children. She said that company memos repeatedly said one of their key target markets are 14 to 24 year olds.

Alessi also told the heart-wrenching story of a man she met while marketing her product at a convenience store. He was at the counter purchasing cigarettes, and she saw “he had a gaping hole in his throat”, and had lost his larynx to smoking.

“This drug, this cigarette is so addictive, this man continued to smoke even after losing his larynx,” Alessi said.

This year, Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Action handed out awards to more two dozen organizations that have made policy changes in the areas of tobacco-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing and tobacco marketing.

Eighteen towns and villages were honored for their work in making various outdoor spaces – like parks and playgrounds – smoke-free. They include the towns of Claverack, Ghent, Ancram, Austerlitz, Germantown, Greenville, Cairo, Copake, Chatham, Kinderhook, Livingston, Stockport and Catskill, and the villages of Coxsackie and Tannersville. Also promoting tobacco-free outdoor air were the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, the Childcare Council of Columbia and Greene Counties, and Columbia Opportunities and Head Start.

Five companies were honored for making housing smoke-free, including Belmont Management, Kaaterskill Manor, Rivertown Senior Apartments, Hudson Terrace Apartments and Mountainview Apartments.

Leading the way against tobacco marketing were Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hudson and Taconic Hills SADD Chapters.

Students smoke hookah despite health risks

2011-06-17T11:40:00.002+03:00

The number of hookah pipes in use seems to multiply every year, but students who smoke them may want to look into the health risks before lighting the coal.
A World Health Organization report said people who smoke hookah for an hour are inhaling as much smoke as if they had burned through 100 cigarettes.
Students who use it say they're not worried about the health risks because they don't smoke very often. Senior business administration major Bridget Edgeworth said she smokes hookah "maybe once a month" and doesn't have a physical addiction to it in the same way people have an addiction to cigarettes.
"I'll wake up with a headache after smoking hookah for a night, but I don't crave it like a cigarette," she said.
HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS WEIGH IN
Kent Bullis, medical director of the Amelia T. Wood Health Center, said smoking hookah is no less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but comparing the two is not as simple as the WHO makes it out to be.
"Hookah is different than cigarettes," Bullis said. "There are different proportions of nicotine versus tar versus carbon monoxide versus numerous other carcinogens. Plus with hookah you are typically adding in whatever source of combustion you are using to get the tobacco to burn."
He said carbon monoxide from coals used to smoke hookah are harmful, but the degree of harm is not something that can be quantified based on recent studies.
"There are studies of Egyptian men who smoke hookah showing what appears to be rates of emphysema 2-3 times higher than one would expect from smoking cigarettes," he said. "These are small studies and have not been duplicated in other populations yet, so it is hard to know how much weight to give them."
Various health organizations have published articles that agree with the 2005 WHO study, but they report different levels of harm caused by smoking hookah causes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted similar numbers in their reports and emphasized that hookah smoking is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.
An article posted on the Mayo Clinic website said hookah smoking is not safer than cigarette smoking, but gave no definite numbers on how harmful it is. It said the carbon monoxide that's inhaled from using hookah is worse that inhaling the same gas from cigarette smoke.

Merchants Learn Importance of Checking IDs for Beer, Cigarettes

2011-06-17T11:38:00.000+03:00

The first line of defense to keep young people from becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs just might be the local grocery store.
A "Merchant’s Roundtable" was held Tuesday at Moundsville's Grand Vue park, presented by the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition and the Ohio County Substance Abuse Coalition. They are explaining how to make it clear to their customers that they won't sell beer or cigarettes to juveniles.

To card every customer or only those whose age is questionable is up to each merchant to make the decision.

Merchants know all too well that a 50-year-old buying a pack of cigarettes, who didn't bring his driver's license into the store, can become hostile when he's told, "no ID, no sale."

But that same 50-year-old might be buying those cigarettes or that beer for an underage person.

The alcohol and drug abuse prevention experts suggest to merchants that by having a clearly posted policy saying they card every alcohol and tobacco customer, can protect them from tirades about being unfair.

According to Susan Oglinsky with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, a new campaign has been unveiled and it's called United in Prevention which encourages people to hold up Ids so it can show if it's red or blue, the kids are underage. If it's white, then go ahead and sell, Oglinsky added.

They passed out marketing materials which included door signs, stickers, even pins for merchants to wear, saying, "We hold up Ids." And while some customers will complain, others want to see them do this.

Pot-smoking grandparents sparking controversy

2011-06-13T14:31:00.001+03:00

Joe Schwartz is a 90-year-old great-grandfather of three who enjoys a few puffs of pot each night before he crawls into bed in the Southern California retirement community he calls home.

The Second World War veteran smokes the drug to alleviate debilitating nausea and is one of about 150 senior citizens on this sprawling, 18,000-person gated campus who belongs to a thriving — and controversial — medical marijuana collective operating here, in the middle of one of the largest retirement communities in the United States.

The fledgling collective mirrors a nationwide trend as more and more senior citizens turn to marijuana, legal or not, to ease the aches and pains of aging. But in Laguna Woods Village, tucked in the heart of one of the most conservative and wealthiest counties in California, these ganja-smoking grandparents have stirred up a heated debate with their collective, attracting a crackdown from within the self-governed community.

Many members of the two-year-old collective keep a low profile, but others grow seedlings on their patios and set up workshops to show other seniors how to turn the marijuana leaves into tea, milk and a vapour that can be inhaled for relief from everything from chemotherapy-related nausea to multiple sclerosis to arthritis.

The most recent project involves getting collective members to plant 40 seeds from experimental varieties of marijuana that are high in a compound said to have anti-inflammatory properties best suited for elderly ailments. The tiny plastic vials, each containing 10 seeds, are stamped with names like "Sour Tsunami."

Under California law, people with a variety of conditions, from migraines to cancer, can get a medical marijuana card with a doctor’s recommendation and join a pot collective to get what they need. All the members of Laguna Woods Village’s collective have medical marijuana cards and are legal users under state law, but the drug is still banned under federal law.

Lonnie Painter, the collective’s president and perhaps most activist member, worries daily about his high-profile position within the tiny community of pot users. The 65-year-old grandfather supplements regular painkillers with marijuana tea for osteoarthritis and keeps stacks of marijuana collective applications on a desk in the living room, not far from the Lego bricks his seven-year-old grandson plays with on his frequent visits.

"We’ve got people who don’t like it here, they don’t like marijuana and they still have that ‘communism’ and ‘perversion’ and ‘killer weed’ attitude," said Painter, who has shoulder-length grey hair, a white goatee and wears several gold necklaces. "What I get more worried about is myself getting put in jail. If you were just a patient you’d be safe, but if you are active and involved in any way in making it available for others, the federal government can come and scoop you up."

In the first two years of the collective’s life, however, Painter and other members have had more trouble from their fellow residents than from the government.

When things first got under way, Painter and three others were growing about two dozen plants with names like Super Silver Haze in the Laguna Woods Village community garden.

Photos show his 77-square-metre plot overflowing with marijuana plants taller than a grown man butting up against the staked tomatoes and purple flowering clematis of other gardeners.

But the Golden Rain Foundation, the all-volunteer board that governs the community, cracked down and prohibited the cultivation of marijuana on all Laguna Woods Village property.

"We thought that it was not proper. It sets a precedent. Our gardens are for flowers and vegetables, and that’s all, and it’s been that way since 1964 or 1965 when this was started," said Howard Feichtmann, who was chairman of the Garden Advisory Group.

"We thought that’s what it should remain and not get involved with medical marijuana or anything else that is considered on the fringe."

Those with medical marijuana cards can still grow the state limit of six mature plants per person in their private residences.

Seneca Nation Wins Stay In Tobacco Tax Case

2011-06-13T14:28:00.002+03:00

The Seneca Nation of Indians won a stay in the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court on a state law that attempts to tax tobacco wholesalers' transations with Indian retailers, the Seneca Nation said in a statement this afternoon.
The temporary restraining order is effective until June 20.

"If New York State courts eventually allow this New York State law to stand, it will have two primary results," said Seneca Nation President Robert Odawi Porter. "One, good-paying retail jobs, selling a legal product in Western New York, will be lost; and, two, there will be no change in the Seneca Nation's stand that it will never collect or impose sales taxes for New York State. "If the Nation's businesses need to shift their product mix to render such onerous tax laws moot, they will."

State Supreme Court Appellate Division Associate Justice Jerome C. Gorski granted the order at the Nation's request. It prevents New York State from enforcing the wholesaler taxing law with respect to the Seneca Nation's tobacco commerce while the Nation's appeal is heard and decided by the higher court.
On Wednesday, Justice Donna M. Siwek sided with the state and removed a temporary restraining order blocking state enforcement. Nation attorneys went to the appellate division late Wednesday and the higher court stay was put in place this morning.

Tobacco may deley foetus growth in uterus

2011-06-13T14:27:00.000+03:00

The consumption of tobacco by pregnant women may contribute to the deley of intra-uterine foetus growth and cause premature birth of the baby.

This was said to ANGOP last Wednesday by the expert of obstetrics, Rosa Bessa.

According to her, the retardation of foetus growth may contribute to the birth of a child with an inappropriate weight.

In addition she said that smoking may cause changes in the body of the child because of nicotine.

Women are urged not to smoke when they are pregnant.

NATC holds symbolic funeral procession of cigarette

2011-06-01T15:49:00.004+03:00

National Alliance for Tobacco Control (NATC) on Tuesday arranged a symbolic funeral procession of cigarette from Arts Council of Pakistan to Karachi Press Club to mark the World No Tobacco Day.

Seminars were organised in various hospitals of the metropolis to raise awareness about the hazards of tobacco, including the Aga Khan University (AKU) in collaboration with NATC, Pakistan Medical Association and Pakistan Chest Society.

Speaking in the seminars, health experts said Pakistan’s inclusion as a signatory in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FTCT) demanded the country to implement laws for reducing tobacco related mortality and morbidity.

They urged that the government should take concrete steps and implement laws against tobacco usage. They said that the government should raise the tobacco price to curtail its use.

The speakers said that the smoke pollution from tobacco usage at public places such as hotels, cafes and restaurants is very high throughout the country. They applauded the recent resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly to ban Sheesha smoking at restaurants and public places.They said that the media could play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of the theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day of implementing the FTCT in its entirety.

Dr Javeed A Khan, Prof Department of Medicine at AKU said Rs 1.2 billion are wasted in tobacco consumption in the country and millions of rupees are spent on the treatment of disease developing due to tobacco usage.

Provincial Minister Shazia Marri strongly recommended the youth to avoid tobacco as it castes a bad impact on their personality and deteriorates their health. She said it is also the responsibly of people to refrain from tobacco as they lose their health and money after becoming an addict.

Chest Specialist AKU Dr Ali Zubhair said the growing epidemic of Sheesha, a lethal add-on at public cafes and restaurants is another cause of concern. According to a research conducted by the WHO, an average pipe smoking session of around an hour is equivalent to smoking 200 cigarettes.

He said smoking in developing countries like Pakistan is a part of a global epidemic that the WHO estimates has already killed a hundred million people during last 100 years and could kill 1 billion more during this century.

Medical varsity to be tobacco-free campus

2011-06-01T15:49:00.002+03:00

Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University will now be a tobacco-free campus. Use and sale of tobacco products will not be allowed inside the campus from now onwards. Violating the ban would invite a fine. Announcement to this effect was made by vice-chancellor, Prof DK Gupta here on Tuesday. The V-C was addressing at an event to mark World No Tobacco Day. He also spoke at length on the ill effects of tobacco use. Dr Zaka Imam, director, Caner Aid Society, which organised the programme, said that tobacco is the single largest cause of preventable death and illnesses. Nearly eight lakh Indians die from tobacco use every year.

Tobacco consumption is high in Uttar Pradesh too. The Third National Family Health Survey shows that tobacco prevalence in UP is high. It says that 2.4% women and 35.5% men smoke cigarettes or bidi, while 9.2% women and 47.6% men chew paan masala, gutka and other forms of tobacco. The figures released in August 2009 are higher than the ones disseminated by Union Ministry of Health And Family Welfare in its report titled, Tobacco Use in India: Practices, Pattern and Prevalence. The report said that 33.8% men and 3.0 % women smoke, while 36.3% males and 10.9% females chew tobacco in Uttar Pradesh.

Tobacco production to increase this year

2011-06-01T15:47:00.000+03:00

EVEN with a metro-wide ban on smoking to take effect in a month, local tobacco production is expected to earn as much as P5 billion in gross revenues.

Production is expected to increase by 5.4 percent to 77 million kilos for crop year 2010-2011 from 73 million kilos in crop year 2009-2010, National Tobacco Administrator Edgardo Zaragoza said.

“We noticed that even local government units are trying to keep the industry alive by encouraging farmers to plant more given the fact that the LGUs get a share in the excise tax from tobacco,” Zaragoza said.

The government collects a tax of seventy-five centavos on each kilo of tobacco. Of this, the LGU gets a 15-percent share from the total excise tax collection on locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes as certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

In 2010, tobacco excise tax collections exceeded the Finance Department’s projected revenues by 22 percent to P31.6 billion.

Zaragoza said that the increased interest of farmers to plant more tobacco stemmed from the increasing market buying price of local burley and native tobacco.

“At present, cigarette manufacturers buy at an average of P77 per kilo in crop year 2010-2010. The average buying price for the last three crop years was about P80 per kilo,” Zaragoza said.

The tobacco industry appears unfazed by recent developments such as the smoking ban to be enforced by the Metro Manila Development Authority and metro LGUs, the renewed drive to curb tobacco consumption, and even moves in Congress to change the tax structure for tobacco products.

Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corp. remains the biggest bulk buyer, chalking up about 92 percent of local production. The balance is shared by Universal Leaf, an exporter of unmanufactured tobacco or leaf tobacco, and Trans Manila, a company that buys directly from farmers and sells to cigarette manufacturers.

The country’s local production comprise slightly over 50 percent of the industry’s demand for tobacco.

Last year, the industry imported about 70 million kilos of tobacco with high nicotine content for blending with local tobacco. The country’s Virginia, burley, and native tobaccos have low nicotine content and can only serve as fillers.

The country gets unmanufactured tobacco from Turkey, China, Pakistan, India and the United States. Manufactured or processed tobacco comes from France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and China.

While the country imports high nicotine tobacco, it also sells filler tobaccos to the US, Belgium, South Africa, Korea, Malaysia Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Last year, the country exported 30 million kilos at $3.49 per kilo of unmanufactured tobacco and $6.71 per kilo of manufactured tobacco