Tobacco News

As a small business owner in Daytona Beach, I do not promote or allow the sale of tobacco products to minors; however, I find the recent article concerning the local government’s efforts to prohibit the sale of flavored cigars very troubling. This appears to be another example of government rules and regulations to legislate individual behavior. Ream more »

The Gainesville City Commission’s stance against the sale of candy-flavored tobacco products will officially go on the record with the passing of a new resolution Thursday.
The City Commission’s resolution urges vendors around the city to stop selling and marketing flavored tobacco as a way to reduce exposure of the products to children and young adults. Ream more »

The smoke screen around young people hasn’t yet cleared, despite the federal law in 2009 banning the sale of flavored cigarettes. That’s why state lawmakers should support a bill that would ban other flavored tobacco products, including small cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff.
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We all know that smoking cigarettes is not good for us. But new research suggests that smoking menthol cigarettes can double one’s risk of having a stroke.

Nicholas Vozoris, a clinical associate at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, told Reuters, “They’re all bad, but having said that, from a harm-reduction perspective this study does lend to the view of avoiding — at a minimum — mentholated types.”
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Smoking menthol cigarettes may more than double the risk for stroke compared to smoking other types of cigarettes, particularly for women and non-black smokers, according to a new large study.

Researchers analyzed data from a federal health survey that consisted of 5,167 current smokers in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2008, Ream more »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering whether to ban the use of menthol as an additive to cigarettes. Mentholated cigarettes account for roughly 30 percent of cigarettes sold in the United States, and they are favored by African-American smokers by roughly a threefold margin compared to white smokers. They are also favored by women smokers. A major aspect of the FDA charge is to determine whether use of mentholated cigarettes is more harmful than use of non-mentholated cigarettes. Ream more »

Efforts are under way around the state to limit the placement of candy-flavored tobacco products that might entice young people to pick up the smoking habit. On Tuesday, the Safe Climate Coalition of Lake County will get an update on the issue from Melaine Chin, health-education program consultant for the Lake County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program. Ream more »

There is a new spin on traditional chewing tobacco, and it’s being sold to area minors. You can find it in cherry, root beer and cool mint flavors and the city of Fort Myers wants it banned.

Despite the label’s disclaimer, the Lee County Health Department says dissolvable tobacco – called Snus – is showing up in the lockers, backpacks and pockets of kids in Lee County.

It’s bright colored, candy flavored and smells just like minty or fruity gum.
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