Trump reversed course on flavored e-cigarette ban over fear of job losses: report

[corbe]

Trump reversed course on flavored e-cigarette ban over fear of job losses: report

By John Bowden - 11/17/19 09:43 PM EST   0comments

President Trump reportedly halted plans to ban some e-cigarette flavors earlier this month due to fears of job losses.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that Trump abruptly backed off the proposed ban, which would have halted the sales of mint flavors as well as candy and fruit flavors, because he feared it could have a negative impact on his campaign as he sought to tout the economy.

Trump, who had previously supported the ban reportedly on the urging of first lady Melania Trump and his daughter, White House adviser Ivanka Trump, refused to sign a decision memo ahead of a planned morning news conference on Nov. 4, according to the Post.

“He didn’t know much about the issue and was just doing it for Melania and Ivanka,” said a senior administration official, according to the Post.

<..snip..>

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/470866-trump-reversed-course-on-flavored-e-cigarette-ban-over-fear-of-job-losses

[Elderberry]

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trump-pulls-back-from-ban-on-e-cigarette-flavors/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world

One last thing was needed: Trump’s sign-off. But on Nov. 4, the night before a planned morning news conference, the president balked. Briefed on a flight to a Lexington, Kentucky, campaign rally, he refused to sign the one-page “decision memo,” saying he didn’t want to move forward with a ban he had once backed, primarily at his wife’s and daughter’s urging, because he feared it would lead to job losses, said a Trump adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal deliberations.

As he had done so many times before, Trump reversed course – this time on a plan to address a major public health problem because of worries that apoplectic vape shop owners and their customers might hurt his reelection prospects, said White House and campaign officials. He also believed job losses tied to the ban would cost him as he sought to trumpet economic growth. It was the latest example of the chaotic way policy is made – and sometimes unmade – in a White House where the ultimate decider often switches gears after making a controversial vow, whether on combating gun violence, pulling troops from Syria or promising to deliver an Obamacare replacement plan.


Officials said the blowback to Trump’s vow to ban most flavored e-cigarettes had rattled him. In an aggressive social media campaign – #IVapeIVote – advocates claimed the ban would shut down thousands of shops, eliminating jobs and sending vapers back to cigarettes. The president saw protesters at events and read critical articles. His campaign manager, Brad Parscale, privately warned that the ban could hurt Trump in battleground states, said a person who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Trump was now upset with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who had taken the lead in rolling out the plan, said three officials familiar with the discussions.

[PeteS in CA]

Given that the additive(s) that caused the diseases was identified around that same time - Vitamin E and/or CBD oil - maybe Trump recognized that such a total ban was unwarranted.

I don't have a horse in the vaping race and thus haven't followed this super closely, but two facts told me that the problem of the diseases was not vaping generally:

* Vaping, including flavored, has been a "thing" for something like 10 years, maybe more;

* The severe lung diseases started showing up much more recently, perhaps within the past 2-3 years.

IOW, the disease cause was not vaping generally but something that changed 2-3 years ago. Thus, what should be targeted is the specific cause(s), not the whole industry. But power-hungry control-freaks among bureaucrats don't think that way.

[skeeter]

Another totally unsourced news media tall tale? Yep.

True? Who knows.

[Elderberry]

Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

Updated November 14, 2019, at 1:00 PM EST

What is New

CDC has identified vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). Recent CDC laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) from 29 patients with EVALI submitted to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the samples. Vitamin E acetate might be used as an additive, most notably as a thickening agent in THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

CDC recommends that people should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers. Until the relationship of vitamin E acetate and lung health is better understood, vitamin E acetate should not be added to e-cigarette, or vaping, products.  In addition, people should not add any substance to e-cigarette or vaping products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments. CDC will continue to update guidance, as appropriate, as new data become available from this outbreak investigation.

What We Know

New Laboratory Findings:

    Analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) of patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury identified vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing products.

    Recent CDC laboratory test results of BAL fluid samples from 29 patients submitted to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the samples.

        THC was identified in 82% of the samples and nicotine was identified in 62% of the samples.

        CDC tested for a range of other chemicals that might be found in e-cigarette, or vaping, products, including plant oils, petroleum distillates like mineral oil, MCT oil, and terpenes (which are compounds found in or added to THC products). None of these chemicals of concern were detected in the BAL fluid samples tested.

    This is the first time that we have detected a chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries. These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs.

    These findings complement the ongoing work of FDAexternal icon and some state public health laboratories to characterize e-liquid exposures and inform the ongoing multistate outbreak.

About the Outbreak:

    As of November 13, 2019, 2,172* cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 2 U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).

        Forty-two deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia (as of November 13, 2019).

        Latest outbreak information is updated every Thursday.

        CDC continues to work closely with FDA, states, public health partners, and clinicians on this investigation.

About Patient Exposure:

    All EVALI patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

        Vitamin E acetate has been identified as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

        THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

        The latest national and state findings suggest products containing THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers, are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.

What We Don't Know

    While it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI, evidence is not yet sufficient to rule out contribution of other chemicals of concern to EVALI.  Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation, and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak.

What CDC Recommends

    CDC recommends that you do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

    CDC also recommends that people should not:

        Buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers.

        Modify or add any substances such as vitamin E acetate to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.

    Since the specific cause or causes of lung injury are not yet known, the only way to assure that you are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

    Adults using e-cigarettes to quit smoking should not go back to smoking; they should weigh all risks and benefits and consider utilizing FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapiesexternal icon.

    Adults who continue to use an e-cigarette, or vaping, product, should carefully monitor themselves for symptoms and see a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms like those reported in this outbreak.

    Irrespective of the ongoing investigation:

        E-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or women who are pregnant.

        Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette, or vaping, products. There is no safe tobacco product. All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, carry a risk.

        THC use has been associated with a wide range of health effects, particularly with prolonged frequent use. The best way to avoid potentially harmful effects is to not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Persons with marijuana use disorder should seek evidence-based treatment by a health care provider.

Key Facts about Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

    Electronic cigarettes — or e-cigarettes — are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

    Using an e-cigarette product is commonly called vaping.

    E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.

    The liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives. THC is the psychoactive mind-altering compound of marijuana that produces the “high”.

Key Facts about Vitamin E Acetate

    Vitamin E acetate might be used as an additive, most notably as a thickening agent in THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

    Vitamin E is a vitamin found in many foods, including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, fruits, and vegetables. It is also available as a dietary supplement and in many cosmetic products, like skin creams.

    Vitamin E acetate usually does not cause harm when ingested as a vitamin supplement or applied to the skin. However, previous research suggests when vitamin E acetate is inhaled, it may interfere with normal lung functioning.

[PeteS in CA]

  @Elderberry.

[PeteS in CA]

TRUMP REVERSES DECISION ON VAPING BAN

President Trump has decided not to move forward with a ban on most flavored e-cigarettes. The mainstream media is certain that Trump made this decision for a bad reason, but it can’t make up its collective mind what that reason was.

Some organs say Trump balked at the ban because his supporters like to vape. Some say he balked because the ban would have cost people jobs. Some attribute Trump’s reversal to industry lobbying.

Whatever his motive, Trump made a good decision. Vaping is the best solution anyone has come up with yet to combat cigarette smoking. Cigarettes kill millions of Americans because they contain tar. E-cigarettes provide the nicotine smokers crave without the tar, thereby enabling smokers to kick a habit that will kill them in favor of a habit that won’t.

Vaping came under fire when a relatively small number of people died as a result of the practice. However, the Centers for Disease Control has finally admitted that the deaths and lung illnesses associated with vaping have nothing to do with legal nicotine e-cigarettes.

Is it possible that President Trump’s decision not to go through with the ban was influenced by the CDC’s finding? Is it possible that it was influenced by arguments in favor of vaping as a comparatively healthy substitute for cigarette smoking?

I wasn't the only person to guess that just maybe Trump's reason was reasonable, though Paul Mirengoff is probably smarter than yours truly. Somehow Slate, the WashPost, and Bloomberg assumed the reason could not be reasonable. Unsurprisingly.