Dr. Kessler, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was talking to the media this week about the problems with the JUUL vaping product. He predicted that JUUL and other similarly designed vaping products are unlikely to be approved by the FDA. (After May 2020, the FDA will be reviewing each e-cigarette design to decide…
Yesterday Alberta became the first province to say that it intends to put a tax on vaping products. The measure was announced in the province’s annual budget. What took so long? Why are other governments not taking action? By any number of criteria, health-oriented taxes and price controls are needed on vaping products, just as…
This week an updated report on the Burden of Occupational Cancer in Canada was circulated. The research was prepared by the Occupational Cancer Research Centre with financial support from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. The results on occupational exposure to second hand smoke might surprise those who think that workers are…
There are thousands of scientific studies on tobacco use published every month (37,000 so far this year!), but only a few find their way into the mainstream media. Among those, even fewer seem to have real influence on government policies. In my circles, one of the most influential papers this year was a British study…
Last February, 2,027 Canadian vapers sat down at a computer and answered a questionnaire prepared by Environics Research on behalf of Health Canada. Six months later, the report summarizing their answers has been available at the Library of Canada. (Link: POR 083-18 Vapers Panel Survey to Measure Attitudes and Behaviours Regarding Vaping Products). The results provide…
The power to speak Medical officers of health have special responsibilities and powers in the Canadian health system. Although they work for municipal, provincial and federal governments, many have the authority to speak out about health risks without having to get approval from elected officials. Federal law, for example, gives Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr….
The news on page 3 of this morning’s edition of the Globe and Mail was a report from Carly Weeks that Canada’s 3 big tobacco companies have set up a new lobby group to oppose vaping regulations. Surprise, Surprise. In fairness, the news was already 3 weeks old. The launch of the Vaping Industry Trade Association (VITA) was announced through…