Author: Daniel Brooks

France's Council of State has officially lifted the ban on the sale of raw flowers and leaves of certain cannabis varieties, following a temporary suspension in January. The decision, announced on Wednesday, annuls the government's decree from December 30, 2021, which prohibited the sale of cannabis flowers and leaves with a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content below 0.3%. The Council of State ruled that CBD (cannabidiol), which has no psychotropic effect and does not cause dependence, cannot be considered a narcotic substance. The institution found no evidence that the consumption of flowers and leaves from low-THC cannabis varieties poses risks to public…

Belgium's railway company SNCB has announced that starting from January 1, smoking and vaping will be prohibited on all train stations throughout the country, including outdoor platforms. This measure will make the entire railway area smoke-free, promoting health, cleanliness, and clarity for passengers and staff. To ensure a smooth implementation of the change, SNCB launched an awareness campaign in stations and on trains on Monday, December 19. The campaign will spread messages through posters, announcements, information screens, and various digital channels. Protecting Children's Right to Grow Up in Good Health Marc Michils, spokesperson for 'Generation Smoke-Free,' welcomed the measure, stating,…

Belgium's Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit), has introduced stricter regulations on the e-cigarette industry to discourage young people from using these products. The new measures, outlined in a Royal Decree (KB), focus on reducing the appeal of e-cigarettes rather than banning flavors outright, as seen in the Netherlands. The KB prohibits the use of trendy names for e-cigarette flavors, bans gadgets such as lights on electronic cigarettes, mandates health warnings and package inserts in Belgium's three official languages, and establishes a list of prohibited ingredients that can be expanded as needed. Distributors who fail to comply with these new…

The Netherlands has banned the sale of vapes with frivolous flavors, restricting the market to tobacco-flavored products only, as stated in the Staatscourant, the Dutch government gazette. The measure, set to take effect on October 1, 2023, aims to make e-cigarettes less attractive to young people. Exotic flavors such as lemon twist, strawberry cream, or brain freeze lower the threshold for youth to start vaping compared to traditional cigarettes. While e-cigarettes are considered less harmful than their analog counterparts, vaping still poses health risks, making it crucial to discourage widespread use among young people. Dutch State Secretary Proposed Flavor Ban…

A recent study conducted by the French Cancer Institute (INCa) and the French Public Health Research Institute (IResP) has concluded that while heated tobacco products like IQOS are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they are more harmful than e-cigarettes. The study, set to be published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials in January 2021, reinforces the notion that e-cigarettes remain the least harmful tool for smoking cessation among the new products that have emerged in recent years. Comparing Heated Tobacco, Personal Vapes, and Smoking The study aimed to compare the chemical composition and toxicological effects of heated tobacco products, e-cigarette…

Je Suis Vapoteur, a media platform created by OneShotMedia agency, has emerged as a powerful advocate for the maintenance of vaping in France. As the e-cigarette faces threats despite its success in helping people quit smoking, Je Suis Vapoteur offers a platform for everyone to defend and engage in support of this alternative to traditional cigarettes. Informing the Public About Vaping Benefits The primary objective of Je Suis Vapoteur is to inform the public, particularly long-time smokers struggling to quit, about the numerous advantages of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. The platform provides a wealth of information, including a lexicon specific…

The New Zealand government has announced a groundbreaking plan to ban the sale of cigarettes to future generations, as part of its ambitious goal to become virtually smoke-free by 2025. Health Minister Ayesha Verrall unveiled the proposed legislation on Thursday, which will now go before parliament for consideration. Under the new law, anyone under the age of 14 when the legislation takes effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco products. "We want to ensure that young people never start smoking. That's why selling or supplying smokable tobacco products to new cohorts of young people will be a criminal…