Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Every day we are presented with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those who suffer.  Sometimes it is as simple as a smile and a kind word, but sometimes it is more. Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG and the Center for Tobacco Free Kids present us with an opportunity to make a real difference by asking the Obama Administration to send the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) to Congress for ratification. Tobacco ... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   As you know, quitting smoking can be difficult. Smoking is a complex behavior, but the main reason quitting is so hard is that nicotine is highly addictive. And to make the nicotine as addictive as possible, the tobacco industry has intentionally engineered the cigarette to get as much nicotine to the brain as they can as quickly as they can. So you would think that I might be surprised to read in the Associated Press that the tobacco indust... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death in men and women in the US, and over 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Quitting smoking is the single best way to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer and those who quit sooner rather than later further reduce their risk of developing this devastating illness. A recent study printed in the British Medical Journal (Parsons, A. BMJ.com) gives smokers who develop lung cancer new ... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   In a controversial decision yesterday that will likely cause considerable confusion in smoke-free venues, US District Court Richard Leon issued an order to lift the FDA ban on the importation of electronic cigarettes. The words of the judge were harsh, stating "This case appears to be yet another example of FDA's aggressive efforts to regulate recreational tobacco products as drugs or devices” and "[the FDA’s] tenacious drive to maximize its... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   With recent news that RJ Reynolds (maker of Winston Cigarettes) has acquired Niconovum AB, a Swedish-based nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) company, for approximately $44 million, as well as news that Philip Morris is in negotiation with Ruyan, the Chinese company that makes the N-Joy Electronic Cigarette, it is clear that Big Tobacco is in transition. One could speculate that Big Tobacco is trying to find product lines that are more... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Ever go on a camping trip and find that you only have two of the three tent poles you need to set up your tent – and it has started to rain? Or maybe you’ve found yourself cooking a special meal only to realize that you don’t have a key ingredient and all your guests have arrived. We’ve all felt unprepared at one time or another; depending on the situation, the ramifications can range from discomfort to disaster.  The New Year is the ... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   The slight increase in smoking prevalence detected by the National Health Interview Survey is cause for concern but probably not alarm. The upward trend was small (less than 1%) but it should definitely give us pause. Smoking prevalence has reduced over the years due to a number of factors. The increasing cost of smoking from excise taxes and price increases, as well as smoke-free indoor air restrictions, have both led to reductions in smok... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   In a move that one cannot help but suspect is strategically calculated, Big Tobacco has filed suit against the FDA for restricting their First Amendment rights of free speech. The Congress passed legislation this last summer that gives the FDA the ability to regulate tobacco products, including how the industry advertises (Title II; Section 201; Sections a & b) their products. Given the track record of the tobacco industry of putting profit... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   It appears that manufacturers of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have shrugged off the efforts of the FDA to limit access to e-cigs and to point out safety concerns (read final FDA Report here). One brand, Smoking Everywhere, has filed an injunction to try and halt the FDA’s authority to block import of these products, citing the FDA “lacks jurisdiction to regulate its product.” The FDA claims (and rightly so), “SE’s [Smoking Everywher... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, continue to attract the attention. Those paying attention include smokers who are looking for a “safer” way of continuing to smoke, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who is concerned about the lack of safety data on these products, and, of course, ambitious entrepreneurs world-wide looking to make a buck or yuan. Let’s take another look at what we actually know about these products. Ma... [More]