“e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco smoke, are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking.” Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) In their October briefing, ASH in the United Kingdom has released a favorable position on electronic cigarettes which is nearly 180 degrees to the position ASH in the United States has taken. ASH’s UK Position on E-cigarettes “ASH supports a harm redu ... Jump to full article >>

The smoke still has not cleared between the Michigan House and Senate on whether state residents should be allowed to enjoy cigarettes while dining. It has been six months since the Michigan House passed a statewide smoking ban for public places, such as restaurants and bars, and the Senate still has not picked up the bill, which exempts casinos and cigar bars. Some representatives still are pushing for the Senate to take action on the bill, but ... Jump to full article >>

At a news conference in mid-election campaign last year, Prime Minister Harper held up flavoured tobacco products and promised that, if relected, the Conservatives would crack down on tobacco that tasted like mints, bubble gum and banana splits. “As a parent I was appalled to see tobacco products being marketed in a way that is clearly enticing children, ” said Mr. Harper. He promised to ban ingredients that imparted extreme flavour ... Jump to full article >>

Taxes by the Numbers Average cigarette tax in non-tobacco states: $1.47 Average state cigarette tax: $1.34 Average cigarette tax in major tobacco states: $0.40 FRANKFORT — When legislators return to Frankfort in January for a new legislative session, they face a daunting task: how to pay for the state’s essential services while revenue continues to decline. Although official estimates won’t be released until next month, initial pr ... Jump to full article >>

Steamboat Springs — This fall, six women graduated from “Baby and Me — Tobacco Free,” a program to keep women from smoking during and after pregnancy. Funded by a grant and led locally by Hope Cook, the prenatal coordinator for the North­west Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, the program gives expecting and new moms incentive and motivation to quit smoking and stay smoke-free. Missy Chotvacs was one of Cook’s fall graduates. She le ... Jump to full article >>

ZURICH, Nov 17 (Reuters) – A U.S. clinical study suggests that just half a dose of the Novartis AG (NOVN.VX) H1N1 vaccine may be enough to generate a protective immune response, the Swiss drugmaker said on Tuesday. Novartis said data from about 4,000 individuals suggested that half a dose of its U.S.-approved unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine met immune criteria in adults and the elderly. The data also showed that its adjuvant was well tolerated, ... Jump to full article >>

What was all the fuss about? Smoking was definitely the thing to do if you grew up in the ’50s. My parents smoked. The movie stars wielded their cigarettes like weapons, providing an effect that was as glamorous as it was powerful. I was 9 when my father gave me the responsibility of buying his cigarettes. After carefully explaining how to retrieve them from the machine, he entrusted me with a quarter, saying I could keep the change! They ... Jump to full article >>

Bar and restaurant owners have teamed up with a conservative policy group in an attempt to overturn the state’s smoking ban, approved by voters in 2006. Groups opposing the state smoking ban have taken the fight up a notch, citing evidence of ballot fraud — more than three years after voters approved the ban. Opponents of Ohio Bans said the petition that placed the smoking ban on the 2006 statewide ballot was tainted by numerous irre ... Jump to full article >>

Crestview Hills City Council will be asking Kenton, Campbell and Boone fiscal courts to pass a smoking ban in indoor public places. The council passed a resolution urging the fiscal courts to enact the ban at the regular meeting Thursday Nov. 12. The resolution passed 4-3 with a tie break vote cast by Mayor Paul Meier. The city plans to send the resolution to all three fiscal courts. “It’s the right thing to do for the public,” ... Jump to full article >>

The end of a 15-year annual decline in the U.S. adult smoking rate proved disturbing to federal officials and anti-tobacco advocates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated yesterday that 20.6 percent of adults — or 46 million Americans — smoked in 2008. The data came from the 2008 National Health interview survey of almost 22,000 adults. The peak of U.S. adult smokers was 53.5 million in 1983, or at 32.1 percent, a ... Jump to full article >>