FDA to regulate e-cigarettes as "tobacco products"

FDA will not appeal the recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Sottera, Inc. v. Food & Drug Administration, stating that e-cigarettes and other products are not drugs/devices unless they are marketed for therapeutic purposes, but that products “made or derived from tobacco” can be regulated as “tobacco products” under the FD&C Act.

Read an article published by US Today about the court decision

FDA is aware that certain products made or derived from tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes, are not currently subject to pre-market review requirements of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. FDA is developing a strategy to regulate this emerging class of products as tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Products that are marketed for therapeutic purposes will continue to be regulated as drugs and/or devices.

Read the Letter to Stakeholders: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm252360.htm
More information on e-cigarettes: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm

Smoke-Free Law Momentum

The CDC released a report last week that all states could be covered by comprehensive smoke-free laws if current momentum is sustained. Click on this link for a story on the report.

The study appears in the April 22 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Wisconsin's workers are healthier because of the state's smoke-free workplace law nad Wisconsin's smoke-free law has had an enormously positive impact in Wisconsin. But we need to make sure these health gains aren't short-lived. It's critically important that the current law remains intact.

Check out rethinklakeshore.org for more info on the positive impacts on Wisconsin's smoke-free air law!

Wisconsin teen injured smoking in New York

Last weekend 2 women (age 19 and 20) along with a 19 year old Wisconsinite were hospitalized after smoking AM-HI-CO Atomic Bomb in New York City. The Wisconsinite reamains in intensive care at the hospital.

The product was legally purchased at a tobacco kiosk in the mall for approximately $30. The product is a mixure of herbal compounds, which looks similar to marijuana, and was placed in rolling paper and smoked.

The Wisconsin man was transported by medical personal on Saturday due to effects that police described as being "catatonic and hallucinogenic". The next day, the females used the product and had to call 911 due to reations. One female could speak, but not move her body. The other woman was feeling dizzy and slightly disorientated. They were both transported and later released.

Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski (D) had introduced Bill Number A5008 in 2010 that would have these products included in New York's controlled substances list.

Full article can be read by clicking link below.

http://pleasantville.patch.com/articles/lawmaker-looks-to-ban-herbal-high-that-sickened-3-over-the-weekend

MJC Support Shown at JFC Hearing in Neenah

Thank you to everyone that shared information with the Joint Finance Committee in Neenah on Wednesday. re:TH!NK had 2 supporters speak, 4 supporters attend, and 12 partners submit written testimony! To read the full recap, visit www.rethinklakeshore.org.

Tobacco CEO Pay and Tobacco Prevention

Did you ever wonder how States' funding for tobacco prevention stack up against pay packages for top tobacco executives?

It's a tale of two payouts!

Total compensation for 5 executives at RJ Reynold, Lorillard, and Marlboro equalled $66.5 million. That is more than any single state (except California) will spend on tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2011. In fact, it's more than the 24 worst states on prevention spend combined.

One CEO received $20.7 million, which was more that 46 states spent on tobacco prevention. For the complete article and a table showing how states rank vs. these payouts check out the link below.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/tobacco_unfiltered/post/2011_04_08_ceo_pay

April 13 Hearing location changed to Neenah!

If you are interested in attending on behalf of Tobacco Prevention and Control PLEASE CONTACT EMILY at edieringer@co.winnebago.wi.us or 920-232-3021 ASAP!! New Location for Wednesday April 13 JFC Hearing: Neenah High School Auditorium 1275 Tullar Road Neenah, WI 54956 Map to Neenah High School

Listen Live to the JFC Hearings!

Today's Joint Finance Hearing in Steven's Point is being streamed LIVE today on the web! Click this link to watch and listen. Can't listen/watch? You can follow Wispolitics on Twitter @wispolitics I'm not going to lie, its sort of annoying with the 2 minute bepper going off all the time (concise is the word people) but this is democracy at work! The rest of the hearings are scheduled as follows: Friday, April 8, UW-Superior, 10am-5pm Monday, April 11, WI State Fair Park, 10am-6pm Wednesday, April 13, TBD (Arcadia location will be moved), 10am-6pm

High blood sugar and smoking

Last week, researchers released lab experiments that found nicotine raised blood sugar levels. The more nicotine that was present, the higher the blood sugar levels were. This is particularly bad news for people with diabetes. The biggest point that can't be lost in this study is that nicotine raises the blood sugar levels, not tobacco. What this means is that diabetics who feel they are "smoking healthier", because they are using e-cigarettes, are actually doing more harm for their health. Cessasion experts will find this study useful when it comes to diabetics who look to use nicotine replacement products/therapies for assistance when the time comes to an attempt to quit smoking. The study found that using a nicotine replacement product for a short period of time is alright as long as the goal is to quit. However, extended use of nicotine replacement products as a "smoking supplement" in NOT RECOMMENDED. http://www.ahiphiwire.org/News/Print.aspx?channel=Wellness&doc_id=784508&utm_source=3%2f28%2f2011&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HiWire_Newsletter&uid=TRACK_USER