Tobacco News

When Elliott Cain lived in California, staff at a marijuana dispensary there recommended a mild brand of marijuana that they said was effective at treating anxiety.

Cain, who had a doctor’s authorization to use marijuana as medicine, found it did just that, tamping down his anxiety without zonking him out.

But when he moved to Washington, medical marijuana was no longer an option. The only legal drugs he could access were prescription medicines that interfered with his sleep.
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Two things people say when they hear about research on smoking tobacco are: “Why do research on smoking? We all know it’s bad for you,” and “Smoking is just a bad habit. You can quit if you have enough willpower.” Now it turns out that a new study published in the The Journal of Neuroscience shows that those people who said, “smoking is a bad habit,” were partially right.
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Need yet another reason to kick the cigarette habit? If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your kids.
I think we’re all aware by now of how dangerous cigarettes are to those who smoke them. And if you think just smoking one (or two, or three) a day is safe, you’re wrong. The U.S. Surgeon General released a report last month stating that even one cigarette — even one — is bad for your health.
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That ongoing message to smokers is being reinforced by the provincial government and many advocacy groups during National Non-Smoking Week.

Saskatchewan has one of the highest smoking rates in the country.

The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey reported a smoking prevalence of 22.3 per cent in the province in 2009, compared with a national prevalence of 17.5 per cent.
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A group of teens in Schuylkill County spent Wednesday evening trying to help others kick the habit.

The group set up shop inside Friendly’s restaurant near Pottsville, selling sweet treats and handing out information about the dangers of smoking and using tobacco.

The Schuylkill Teens Kickin’ Nicotine Team and the Schuylkill County Tobacco-Free Youth Coalition teamed up for the night. Ream more »

This week across Canada local agencies united to encourage people butt out – their cigarettes, that is.

National Non-smoking Week was established in 1977 by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control(CCTC). More than an awareness campaign, the week was designed to be more than billboards and posters. “We actually want to move people to action,” Bob Walsh, executive director of the CCTC said. Ream more »

Southfield’s City Council voted unanimously tonight against proposed zoning regulations that would have allowed medical marijuana growing facilities in the city’s light industrial districts.
The vote came after more than a dozen residents — most opposed to the measure — and two lawyers debated the validity of the zoning. Most council members said they still needed to do more research. They then voted unanimously to extend the city’s 180-day moratorium from July — scheduled to end Friday — for another 180 days. Ream more »

For years, critics have speculated that House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong sought changes to the tobacco commission because he was bitter he was never appointed to the panel that doles out money from a settlement with the nation’s tobacco companies. Now, Armstrong wants to make sure that legislators never serve on the commission.
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BBC investigative reporter Sam Poling goes undercover to smoke out the truth behind the illegal tobacco trade
A BBC investigation is set to expose the organised crime groups controlling Scotland’s illegal tobacco trade.

Illegal products being sold by crime gangs were bought by a BBC Scotland undercover team, who secretly filmed the supply chain.
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King County Board of Health members restricted sales and use of electronic cigarettes last month.
The e-cigarette is a battery-powered device designed to deliver a nicotine-based and flavored liquid vapor.
The board voted unanimously to restrict the sales of e-cigarettes or any other unapproved nicotine delivery devices only to people 18 and older. The board prohibited free or highly discounted electronic smoking devices or unapproved nicotine delivery products. The use of e-cigarette devices in places where smoking is prohibited by law is also banned. Ream more »