Black markets tend to attract established organised crime groups, which have the capacity to use violence to enforce contracts, collect debts and threaten competitors.
Many people wrongly assume that cannabis use during pregnancy is safe. Research is increasingly documenting a host of serious health harms from prenatal exposure to cannabis and other substances.
Nicotine pouches are placed between the lip and gum, and users absorb the nicotine in their mouths. Although these products don’t contain tobacco, this doesn’t mean they’re safe.
Our recent study shows that the creation of local smoke-free areas has faced numerous challenges due to the complexities involved in translating national laws into local laws.
Beth Cohen, University of California, San Francisco
Clinical trials have demonstrated the health benefits of cannabis for certain conditions, but many aren’t testing smoked or vaped forms. Research on cannabis smoke is raising concerns.
Our study of six Asia-Pacific countries found that there would be a remarkable return on investment from higher tobacco taxes. The Philippines, Australia and New Zealand have already shown it works.
In low-income countries, tobacco use is often associated with lower income and less education. These users can’t afford to pay for counselling and medication.
E-cigarettes may be a useful tool to help people quit smoking, but emerging evidence shows how important it is to make this only the first step in giving up altogether.
Big Tobacco’s efforts to rehabilitate its image should not go unchallenged because the tobacco industry’s goal remains advancing corporate profit at the expense of public health.
In places around the world that lack restrictions to combat the problem, tobacco companies are using marketing strategies aimed at children, like displaying tobacco products at kids’ eye level.
The proposed standard would lower the nicotine content in cigarettes and cigars by 95% – a public health proposal that could prevent millions from becoming smokers in the first place.