Author: Matthew Ma
Increasing taxes to make cigarettes more expensive could significantly reduce infant mortality, especially among poorer populations, according to a study in The Lancet. Researchers analyzed data from 94 low- and middle-income countries, revealing that higher tobacco taxation has the potential to substantially lower deaths in children under five. The study highlighted that "only specific taxes (by quantity or weight) were associated with reducing socioeconomic inequalities in infant mortality," suggesting tax structures must be strategically designed. Small tax increases (around 10%) were found insufficient to produce significant effects across different income levels, underscoring the need for more substantial tax hikes to achieve…
Smoking tobacco stands as one of the most pervasive and damaging habits affecting human health globally. Despite countless public health campaigns and stark warnings about its consequences, smoking rates remain stubbornly high in many parts of the world, including Russia. Many individuals perceive smoking as a mere habit, a simple matter of willpower to overcome. This perspective, however, is a dangerous oversimplification for two key reasons. Firstly, ingrained habits can be incredibly challenging to break, requiring more than just a fleeting desire for change. Secondly, and more critically, smoking transcends simple habit; it is a recognized form of drug addiction,…
Bill Bans Smokable Hemp, Delta-8; Limits Sales to Adult-Only Stores Alabama is set to implement sweeping restrictions on hemp and CBD products after the State Senate passed House Bill 445 on Tuesday, sending it to Governor Kay Ivey for signature. The legislation, significantly amended by the Senate, introduces outright bans, THC limits, and strict sales channel limitations. Key provisions of the bill include a complete ban on the sale of smokable hemp and CBD products, such as flower buds and vapes. It also prohibits potentially psychoactive products derived from hemp, like those containing Delta-8 THC. Furthermore, the law bans online…
Sale and Supply of Single-Use Vapes Illegal from June 1, 2025 Retailers across the UK are being urged to prepare for the nationwide ban on the sale and supply of single-use disposable vapes, which is set to take effect on June 1, 2025. Councils, like Bolton, are actively reminding businesses to clear their stock and ensure compliance before the deadline to avoid significant penalties. The incoming legislation, part of a broader strategy addressing environmental waste and safety concerns, will make it illegal for any business – including high street shops, online retailers, and even healthcare services – to sell, supply,…
California's legal cannabis industry is bracing for a perfect storm of challenges as it enters the second half of 2025. A combination of rising costs, including a scheduled increase in the state excise tax, new federal tariffs on imported cannabis supplies, and a proposed ban on disposable vapes, threatens to further disadvantage legal retailers against the state's thriving illicit market. Excise Tax Hike and Its Potential Impact The state's 15% cannabis excise tax is set to increase on July 1, potentially rising to 19%. This tax, collected at the retail level, is adjustable to generate revenue equivalent to what the…
Australia implemented significant new tobacco control laws on April 1st, 2025, fundamentally altering the appearance, contents, and packaging of tobacco products nationwide. The federal government passed this comprehensive legislative package in late 2023, introducing several key changes designed to curb smoking rates. These reforms mandate standardized sizes for tobacco packs and cigarette sticks, eliminating novelty designs. They also introduce updated, more impactful graphic health warnings and require informational inserts about quitting inside packs. Crucially, warnings must now appear directly on individual cigarette filters. Furthermore, the laws ban ingredients known to enhance flavor and make smoking easier, most notably menthol. Retailers…
Alabama lawmakers have introduced House Bill 445, which aims to impose stricter regulations on THC products, including delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10. The proposed legislation seeks to restrict the sale of these products to locations inaccessible to minors and establish labeling, testing, and THC content limits for consumable hemp products. Under HB 445, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board would be responsible for regulating hemp products through the licensure of manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and retailers. Those wishing to sell these products would need to obtain a license, similar to the requirements for selling alcohol. The bill would also limit the sale…
The UK government is intensifying its crackdown on illegal tobacco and vaping products, with a £10 million funding boost for Trading Standards. This investment, announced as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill nears becoming law, aims to support local enforcement efforts over the next year by recruiting and training around 80 apprentice enforcement officers. These new officers will work to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco and vapes into shops and prevent underage sales. Trading Standards teams, often in collaboration with local police, play a crucial role in dismantling organized crime groups involved in the illicit vape trade through targeted raids…
The Blinc Group Inc., a New York-based vaping technology company, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in a New York court. The petition, signed by CEO Arnaud Dumas de Rauly and submitted on March 14, cited at least $1 million in liabilities. According to the list of creditors included in the filing, the company appears to have outstanding debts to various entities, including tax authorities, suppliers, media, and public relations firms. Although plant-touching cannabis companies are not eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, Blinc identifies itself as a vaping technology company, allowing it to file for this type of bankruptcy.…
A new study, drawing on 25 years of data on New Zealand teenagers, has challenged the notion that vaping displaces smoking among young people. The research, conducted by Cancer Council NSW, the University of Sydney's Daffodil Centre, and the University of Auckland, suggests that the introduction of e-cigarettes may have actually slowed progress in reducing adolescent smoking rates. The study, published in the Lancet Regional Health—Western Pacific, examined the potential impact of vaping on smoking trends among nearly 700,000 students aged 14 to 15 years old (Year 10) over a 25-year period. University of Auckland research fellow Dr Lucy Hardie,…