New from Steve K's Vaping World:
Welcome! Welcome to another fun-filled Friday e-cigarette news roundup. The leading story in this week’s roundup is of course the results from the first study funded by the CASAA research fund. There’s also more stories to be had. It’s been an interesting week in general with e-cigarettes getting some quality news coverage. Sit back, relax, and let’s jump into the e-cigarette news.
Even So-Called Negative Studies Show Negligible eCig Harm
CASAA reported some very promising results from the first study funded via the CASAA Research Fund. The fund provided a grant to Professor Igor Burstyn to review and quantify the findings from all available studies on e-cigarettes that have been published to date. It turns out, that even the studies paraded around by prohibitionists show e-cigarettes to pose little to no risk to vapers and bystanders alike.
Breaking News: New study shows no risk from e-cigarette contaminants
For the first time, we have a definitive study that can be used to respond to claims that contaminants in e-cigarettes are dangerous and that there is a hazard to bystanders that calls for usage restrictions. Existing individual chemistry studies have been difficult for anyone other than an expert to understand (which is why we gave a grant to an expert to understand them!), and a naive interpretation of individual studies (just reading what the authors editorialized about their results) gave the impression of “dueling studies”, with some showing a problem and some not. While many THR advocates made an effort to make sense of and use the existing literature, it was almost impossible to do so effectively. Burstyn’s analysis solves that problem and shows there is no duel: All of the studies, including the “bad” ones, show that there is no worry.
It seems that just about everyone is shocked about how positive the results, myself included. Naturally, I doubt any prohibitionists will see the light and change their tunes. If the study is acknowledged at all, they’ll claim it’s some sort of phonied up industry ploy. Or perhaps they’ll dismiss it because it was funded by… consumers. Who knows.
NYC eCig Use Sure to Give Prohibitionists Fits
Even though New York City is attempting to suck the joy out of vaping by banning flavors (what’s next, sunshine and the gentle purr of kittens?) in e-cigarettes, the hip and trendy folk seem to have taken a shining to the new reality of things. A 2 pager in the Times Style section covers how the e-cigarettes have been received in the Big Apple’s nightclubs and other establishments.
Smoking Is Back, Without the Stigma
Goldin Martinez, who works security at Jimmy, the rooftop bar at the James New York Hotel in SoHo, among other places, recalled a recent run-in with a patron he mistakenly singled out for smoking. He’s still annoyed over the encounter. “It gives the place a bad image,” he said. “People think, ‘What’s up with the staff here?’ ”
Still, the mistake happens enough that e-smokers have developed a kind of hand gesture to ward off the cigarette police. The e-smoker will “put the cigarette to their forehead,” Mr. Birnbaum said. “You realize either the person is a psycho or they’re smoking an e-cigarette.”
Allow me a moment for some I told you so. That’s why I always complain about red and orange LEDs when I do reviews of standard e-cigarettes. It’s stuff like this. You aren’t going to get harassed by a burly bouncer if you’re glowing blue up in the club.
Mind the Vape: eCigs Banned for Tube Employees
Transport for London, the entity responsible for managing London’s famous Underground system has declared employees may not vape on the job. The reasoning is that they fear e-cigarettes look too much like regular cigarettes and may cause confusion or portray the company in a bad light. As of now, this rule does not cover the public… yet.
TfL vetos electronic cigarettes for staff… now commuters could face ban too
In an email to staff, the organisation writes: “E-cigarettes and nicotine inhalers are extremely difficult to differentiate from real cigarettes, therefore if someone uses an e-cigarette or nicotine inhaler in the workplace it might look like they are smoking a real cigarette.
“This is not the image we want to portray to customers and colleagues.”
Jill Collis, London Underground’s director of health, safety and environment said: “Smoking isn’t allowed on any part of the Tube network. Our staff are also not allowed to use electronic cigarettes whilst working. Those who wish to do so can smoke these during their breaks.
The article also notes TfL are trying to figure out whether or not to extend the prohibition to customers as well. I’m still not sure if these sorts of reasons are completely paranoid and unfounded, especially now that most people understand e-cigarettes. Or, is it that there are smokers who actually attempt to smoke real cigarettes and pass them off as e-cigarettes.
V2 Cigs May Exceed $100M in Revenue
Things are going well for e-cigarette company V2 Cigs. Very well according to Business Insider. The company pulled in $50 million last year and is expected to bring in between 75 and 120 Million this year. The company noted that B&M sales is a weak point with only about 20% of the company’s sales coming in offline.
This E-Cigarette Company Is On Track To Generate North Of $100 Million This Year
Moving forward, V2 wants to expand its business into the offline world, Verleur says. Right now, it makes most of its money online. Offline sales only account for about 20% of the business. By 2014, V2 wants its offline sales to outpace the growth of its online sales.
Even though V2 is doing well, it’s not even the biggest player in the growing e-cig space. This year, e-cig companies are expected to bring in more than $1 billion in revenue. By 2015, it’s expected to become a $3 billion market by 2015.
I remember it wasn’t too long ago, a company would be lucky to be worth maybe 10M. Not too bad. Shameless plug, here’s my V2Cigs review.
Prohibitionist Makes Really Stupid Analogy
In a cranky letter to the editor a public health program nurse tells North Dakota’s InForum that tobacco harm reduction is a bad idea. The article rambles on about the state’s heavy youth use of chewing tobacco (which I’m not even sure is really a focus of harm reduction, that’d be Snus.) Then she gets on to the subject of electronic cigarettes and how it’s bad they mimic the action of smoking. But, the cluelessness doesn’t stop there.
Letter: Harm-reduction not best public policy for tobacco
How would it be if the public health professionals advocated for food handlers to wash their hands most of the time after using the bathroom rather than every time? After all, it would reduce the chances of contracting disease from someone who never washed his/her hands. One could say it is better than never washing one’s hands. The public policy must continue to be the best method of preventing disease transmission, that is: wash one’s hands every time, not just sometimes.
That one makes my head hurt it’s so wrong. Of course the source of this whole thing comes at the end of the letter. That’s where she says she’s cheesed off because ND wants to use tobacco control funds to study harm reduction. Methinks someone fears a dent being put in their grant money.
Professor Trying to Raise Research Money via IndieGoGo
Now here’s something you don’t see every day. A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco is attempting to raise funds for a study on the potential harmful effects of e-cigarettes and other products. Rather than going to the usual suspects for grant money, the team is crowdsourcing the fundage via IndieGoGo instead. The goal is to raise at least $30K in 45 days. The study will also include little cigars, which seems like a waste of money to find out if they are as harmful as cigarettes. While the overall reasoning for doing the study sounds good, some things give me pause.
Are e-cigarettes, cigarillos, and other cigarette substitutes as harmful?
The problem? Many people equate “safer” with “safe,” and there has been a rush to allow people to use e-cigarettes wherever they feel like it, including schools, clinics, and day care centers. However, nicotine is still bad for you, bystanders can show signs of nicotine exposure, and there’s evidence that a few of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke are also present in e-cigarette emissions, although in low amounts and it isn’t yet clear whether they are harmful. Lots of companies make them, with no set standards on quality or chemicals in the vapor. There are not uniform restrictions on sales to minors, and flavorings include not only menthol, fruits, and chocolate, but even bubblegum!
It seems to me, the assumption that flavors are to attract kids will stay whatever the results of the actual study. As for the fund source, I guess Pfizer ran out of grant money this month.
Scholars to Teach Students Confirmation Bias
In a press release, USTA announced it will be conducting a study about e-cigarettes with 30 grand it scored in a grant. In particular, the study will look at the physiological aspect of vaping. The release goes on to point out students will be working with researchers to learn about performing studies and the such. The one flaw in the plan seems to be that they already know what results they want.
UTSA scholars to study health effects of electronic cigarettes
UTSA students pursing kinesiology and health-related careers will conduct research alongside the scholars, giving them the opportunity to learn quantitative research methods in preparation for their careers in academia and health-related professions.
The scholars will be working under the hypothesis that vaporized nicotine stimulates the human nervous system in ways that could seriously impact daily living. They believe that the inhalation of vaporized nicotine has the potential to increase a person’s resting metabolism, making exercise problematic. They also believe it prevents the cardiovascular system from properly regulating arterial pressure and decreases the brain’s ability to regulate blood flow.
Yep, molding the next generation of prohibitionists. If we’ve learned anything from that side of the camp it’s that when conducting research with an end result already decided upon, the research, or at least how the research is presented, tends to bend towards supporting that view whether or not the data agree.
US Tobacco Grower to Begin Selling Liquid Nicotine
Universal, the world’s leader in tobacco processing announced it will be producing liquid nicotine by years’ end. Specifics of the deal weren’t announced beyond a general mention of supplying nicotine liquid to the e-cigarette industry. At this point it’s unknown if US-produced nicotine liquid will be available to small e-liquid merchants and the DIY folks, or if this will strictly be a big tobacco thing.
Tobacco supplier Universal joint venture to make liquid nicotine for e-cigarette industry
Universal says the new business will produce pharmacy-grade liquid nicotine in the U.S. using fully traceable and compliant tobaccos. Production is expected to begin before the end of 2013.
CEO George Freeman III noted that the electronic cigarette industry is growing rapidly and that the company looks forward to being a reliable, high-quality supplier for the emerging market.
I suppose a lot can be read into this announcement. Perhaps it’s a big tobacco move to shore up the supply line. Or, maybe it’s in anticipation of future FDA regulations. Time will tell what becomes of this deal and if smaller outfits will have to continue to source nicotine from overseas.
Plucky Upstart Poised to be Crushed by RJR
Like most other cigarette companies, RJR has been seeking legal action against e-cigarette companies using their trademarks. That’s why you often see flavors with goofy names like “cowboy” and “desert.” Still, some companies buck the trend and eventually, the iron fist of the legal system comes crashing down upon them. Sometimes with hilarious results. The most recent lawsuit is against a company called Addison e-Cigarettes, who without aid of legal counsel, has decided to boldly stand up to the tobacco giant and give them a giant “I know you are, but what am I?”
Reynolds continues to protect trademarks in e-cigarette suits
“It gives me great joy to explain all the ways in which your decision to proceed with court action, instead of pursuing other available options, has made this specific case a resounding failure,” Addison said in a letter sent to William Bryner, an attorney representing Reynolds Innovations, and forwarded to Judge Joi Elizabeth Peake.
Addison said the only way that Reynolds “could make my promise false would be to cut my life short by violent criminal action.”
Yeah, that guy’s going to get squashed like a bug.
Enterprising Jailer to Sell eCigs in Hoosegow
A sheriff in Tennessee had a couple of problems on his hands. First, his jail guards were seriously underpaid. Second, like many prisons in the country, inmates are no longer allowed to smoke thanks to smokefree laws. The enterprising lawman decided to kill two birds with one stone and sell e-cigarettes to the inmates and use the proceeds to pay for raises for the employees.
Electronic cigarettes could mean a raise for COs
At a recent Tennessee Sheriff Association conference, Gammons came across a company that makes electronic cigarettes especially designed to be used in correctional facilities.
The company is called Crossbar, and was started by a KY jailer who was also trying to find a solution for addicted inmates while increasing revenue. The problem was that electronic cigarettes generally are made with a hard metal casing—which inmates soon started using as a weapon. So the jailer started a company that makes the same electronic cigarettes using soft plastic.
These cigarettes contain 500 draws, or puffs, apiece. That is the equivalent of 2.5 packs of cigarettes. Gammons plans to sell them for $13.50 each, which is roughly the same price that cigarettes would go for on the street.
There’s a few interesting things to process in that quote. First of all, I didn’t realize there was a specialized e-cigarette for correctional institutions. That’s kind of brilliant. But 13.50 a pop for a disposable… ouch.
Citigroup: MHRA & EU Medical Req's Give BAT Huge Advantage
It seems that e-cigarette users and the industry in general isn’t alone in thinking the new licensing requirements will kill small players. Citigroup’s analysis of the industry plays out the same thing noting that British American Tobacco may be positioned to corner the market. Specifically, the company has a couple of other products under wraps in addition to Vype which will be put through the medical licensing process.
BATS to smoke e-cig rivals suggests Citigroup
The broker expects BAT to launch two new products with medical licences over the next two years and these licences will be key in the future as Citigroup expects unlicensed products to be banned from 2016.
As Citgroup also sees most existing products failing to get a licence, BAT will have a significant first mover advantage.
One the two new products is cigarette-shaped stick that contains a nicotine aerosol spray that initial capex suggests sales in the ballpark of £100m-£150m, suggests Citigroup.
Gee, e-cigarette regulations are actually designed to hand the industry over to big tobacco. Now there’s a crazy conspiracy theory if ever I’ve heard one.
Petition from Concerned Citizens or Astroturfing?
Internet petitions. One of the most useless inventions since doggie booties. Still, people love them some petitions. We even tried a couple times to get the government to understand our plight with e-cigarettes. I just ran across a new internet petition. This one comes from a different angle, it’s a petition to support a California couple who are suing because an e-cigarette charger blew up in their car. The petition which seems to be directed at nobody in particular wants to spread the word of the “dangers” of e-cigarettes.
Support Victims of Electronic Cigarette Explosion
I am signing the following petition to show my support for your case and call for action in the regulation of electronic cigarettes. We agree with your statement that cases similar to yours will increase without the regulation of electronic cigarette regulation. Electronic cigarettes have been advertised as a safer choice to cigarettes, removing the risk of second hand smoke and the lingering cigarette smoke smell. Yet, consumers of this product will be surprised that electronic cigarettes can lead to dangerous effects as well.
So far no word on whether or not there are similar petitions to call for harsh regulation for electronics in general which also have an occasional explodey problem. This petition seems odd to me that anyone would actually care enough to make up a random petition like this. The only reason I’m not completely convinced this isn’t some kind of prohibitionist end-run is that there’s no mention of denormalization or gateways.
Totally Wicked Founder Beaten in Home Invasion
According to local news reports, Jason Cropper founder and former CEO of e-cigarette company Totally Wicked was severely beaten during a home invasion. Several masked men beat Cropper and forced their way into the home to steal valuables. They then made off in Cropper’s range rover, which the gang abandoned and torched about a mile away from the UK home. Police are investigating the incident and Jason has been released from the hospital.
Man attacked by gang at Samlesbury home
Officers said following the robbery, which happened at around 12.30am yesterday morning, Mr Cropper was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he was originally expected to stay for a couple of days because of his injuries.
However, he returned home yesterday afternoon, walking gingerly with his arms in bandages.
Officers, who were still at the scene, refused him entry to his home to allow forensic investigators to continue their work.
Normally, this is where my smarmy remarks go. You won’t find any of those here. I wish Jason a speedy recovery and hope the police are able to apprehend the criminals.
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Originally posted: e-Cig News Roundup 8-9 – In the air
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