With the potential restriction of menthol cigarette maker Lorillard Inc. is now protesting in defense of its Newport Brand, which it holds 35 percent share of the U.S. market. Launching a campaign, in the form of a Web site called Understanding Menthol, the company provides its position on the possible ban, along with the science that is under review by a federal advisory committee, and the consequences of a potential ban on menthol cigarettes. Studies, going against menthol, have cited that its usage only entices people to start smoking, which can result in health issues.

“We believe our customers need to be aware of this review process and the real-world consequences of whatever recommendation the panel makes to the FDA,” William True, senior vice president of research and development for Lorillard, said in a written statement to The Associated Press.
The company has also started issuing letters to smokers of the Newport brand to notify them of claims made by a U.S, Food and Drug Administration that cigarettes containing menthol have public health impacts. Lorillard Inc., also plans to utilize social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in contact with users on the impending problem.
Adding menthol has served as a major factor in the growth of tobacco companies as the market continues to shrink.
According to Lorillard, they are under the belief that scientific evidence isn’t sufficient enough in showing that menthol cigarettes have greater health risks than cigarettes that don’t utilize the substance. They also believe that the ban will force users to find it from other means, such as the black market, which won’t meet basic product standards and create more potential harm for smokers.

From hiphopwired.com, June 30, 2010, By Justin T. Stewart

Russell Crowe has confessed that he has had a hiccup with his recent smoking cessation attempt after he decided to have a cigar as a celebration for the birth of a baby to a good friend of his. The good news is however that he said that he’s still on track, and that it did not in “any way weaken” his resolve to quit smoking and be completely smoke free in the future. When you are trying to quit smoking there is always a bit of a dilemma when it comes to having the odd cigar or just a puff of a cigarette. Obviously our advice is to stay completely away from any form a smoking however at the same time we have seen how some individuals have managed to quit smoking by for example setting themselves a reward of one cigar at the end of the week if they don’t smoke anything else. The danger is however that the reward ends up becoming a habit.

Russell Crowe, who recently starred in the new Robin Hood film, is 46 years old now and his smoking cessation is well overdue. It is a good thing that he is not falling into the “the damage is already done” attitude that many older smokers have and that he is aware of the huge health benefits that he will reap almost immediately on quitting for good.

One thing is for sure and that is that he will notice significantly improved erectile function, mobility, taste, smell and general well being. He’ll also notice that he doesn’t have to pay so much for health insurance and that he won’t have to stand outside restaurants every time he goes for a meal.

Even though Russell Crowe said he’s struggling with the nicotine withdrawal symptoms possibly the biggest challenge to him will be the psychological and emotional aspects of quitting smoking. As a hardened and long term smoker you tend to build your whole identity around smoking and it is important that new nonsmokers dive head first into their new healthy lifestyles.

At Ukmedix News we wish Russell Crowe the luck, determination and resilience which he so aptly portrayed in the film Gladiator.

From ukmedix.com, June 30, 2010

She vowed to quit smoking after she was shown what damage her 40-a-day habit was doing to her looks.
Coleen Nolan also promised and made a pact with her young daughter Ciara last year that she would kick the habit. But more than 12 months on and the TV presenter was snapped puffing away on a cigarette as she waited for her car. Coleen, 45, looked tired and stressed as she hung around for her ride to take her to the Loose Women studios in London. And she appeared to take long, hard drags on her ciggie as she played with her iPhone as she waited. But she’ll have some explaining to do to her eight-year-old daughter who she made a promise to that she would quit.

Taking part in an ITV documentary called The Truth About… Eternal Youth, last year, Coleen made the promise after she was given a glimpse into her future and what her face would look like in 20 years time if she continues to smoke heavily.
Using a special computer programme, skin experts from London’s Harley Street showed her how her face would age over the next 10 and 20 years.
The wrinkles around her eyes were increased and her skin tone was made more grey to show the effects smoking has on the skin.
Horrified, Coleen said: ”Ok, I get the point, stop smoking.’
After the consultation, she made the pact with Ciara and told the Daily Mirror: ‘It was quite shocking. I know that smoking is one of the worst things that you can do for your skin. I am hoping to give up very soon.
‘That is my plan and I am going out to buy nicotine patches because it is a promise I made to my daughter.’

From dailymail.co.uk, By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN, June 30, 2010

Midwives should encourage pregnant women to have their carbon monoxide levels tested to determine whether they smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke, new guidance suggests. Smoking during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, still-birth and sudden unexpected infant death, as well as respiratory and psychological problems in childhood. Active smokers typically have high carbon monoxide levels, but these are also found in people who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, such as those living with smokers.

New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests that testing pregnant mothers would help to ensure they receive appropriate support they need to quit for good or reduce their exposure to secondhand smoke.

The guidance says that midwives should urge women to have the breath test at their first antenatal appointment.

Smokers who are pregnant or have recently given birth should be offered a range of options to help them quit, including referral to NHS Stop Smoking Services, contact details for the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline, and personalised, non-judgemental support from professionals.

Partners who smoke should also be advised to contact NHS Stop Smoking Services for advice on how to quit.

The guidance also recommends that healthcare and smoking cessation staff receive formal training to help them give advice in a non-judgemental way.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of NICE’s Centre for Public Health Excellence, said: “We’ve known for many years that smoking and passive smoking can cause serious illnesses like lung cancer. During pregnancy, smoking puts the health of the women and her unborn baby at great risk both in the short and long term, and small children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems.”

The professor insisted that the carbon monoxide test is not designed to “penalise” women who smoke, but to show them how smoking and passive smoking raise their levels of the gas.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: “Only a very small proportion of women smokers carry on smoking after getting pregnant, but those who do tend to be the heaviest and most addicted smokers who need support and help from healthcare professionals to quit.

“We welcome the NICE guidance which is designed to be practical and encouraging and not to condemn pregnant smokers for their addiction.”

Robin Hewings, Cancer Research UK’s tobacco control manager, commented: “It is good news that NICE has made such a thorough examination of the different options to help pregnant women quit smoking. Smoking in pregnancy does real harm to unborn children – including premature birth and still-birth as well as sudden unexpected death in infancy.

“Pregnant women should receive as much help as possible to give up so they can help give the healthiest possible start to their children. It’s also a good idea to help fathers to quit so children benefit from a smokefree household, reducing the risk of them becoming smokers later in life.”

From info.cancerresearchuk.org, June 30, 2010

Anti-tobacco advocates are bracing for a counterattack from tobacco firms after Ontario and the federal government moved Tuesday to ban kiddy-friendly flavoured cigarillos. “Our work on this front is far from over. Some tobacco companies seem to be intent on manoeuvring around our health protection laws,” Ontario Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best warned in London, where she announced the ban. The ban takes effect July 1 and prohibits the sale and distribution of flavoured cigarillos, with the exception of menthol flavour.

The province also is requiring unflavoured cigarillos to be sold in packages of at least 20, the same as cigarettes, in an effort to make the little cigars unaffordable for young people.

Packaged like crayons and candy, the little cigars come in chocolate, grape, strawberry, cherry, bubblegum, pina colada and other flavours. Some retail for less than $2. Best said the products were clearly aimed at youth and children.

By changing the wrapping from paper to a tobacco product, the industry was able to have the flavoured cigarillos classified as a cigar, avoiding the packaging and warning requirements of cigarettes. Best said the Ontario law allows the government to change the definition of cigarillos if the tobacco industry changes the product to sidestep the legislation.

“My staff and I at the Ministry of Health Promotion are working diligently to ensure our efforts to protect young people are not thwarted by actions taken by tobacco companies to circumvent federal and provincial laws,” she said.

Middlesex-London medical officer of health Graham Pollett said the flavoured cigarillos appeal to young people who might think they are less dangerous than cigarettes. That is not the case, he said, warning the next tobacco product that will likely be launched in Ontario is snus.

Developed in Sweden, snus is moist tobacco contained in a small pouch placed under the lip. Although it is banned in most of Europe, snus is being marketed in the United States. Companies importing the product suggest it is a safer alternative to smoking.

An Imperial Tobacco spokesperson said his company supports the Ontario law’s intent.

“We believe kids should not be smoking at all, this is for adults that make a choice knowing the risks,” Eric Gagnon said.

But the ban will only add to the problem of contraband cigarettes, he said.

“Kids will still have access to those products cheaper than today,” Gagnon predicted.

Best said the province is concerned about illegal cigarettes and contraband tobacco. “It is a very complex issue which the government is dealing with.”

From lfpress.com, By JOHN MINER, June 30, 2010

Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em Gators, because in a couple of days, tobacco on campus will be a thing of the past. Starting Thursday, UF will enforce a new smoke-free campus policy, designed to encourage healthy lifestyle choices among students, staff and visitors. UF is the first public university in the state to adopt such a policy, although there are at least 394 campuses nationwide that adhere to such strict standards, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. The policy prohibits the use of any tobacco products, even smokeless products like snuff or electronic cigarettes.

The ban applies to all UF-owned facilities, including those outside of Alachua County. Tobacco users will also be prohibited from using products in their cars on any campus parking lot or road. It also applies to university-recognized locations on the UF campus, such as fraternity and sorority houses.
The policy is part of the Healthy Gators 2010 Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting a healthy campus environment, according to UF spokesman Steve Orlando.
If caught using tobacco, violators will be reminded of the policy and asked to comply. Students who refuse will be dealt with by the Dean of Students Office, while staff members will answer to their immediate supervisors.
Repeat violators will face harsher consequences, although Orlando said punishment isn’t the emphasis.
“There won’t be a direct penalty for violating,” he said, “but again, the goal is not to create a situation where we’re going to penalize people . . . but to encourage people to be healthier.”
Tobacco users may find the policy too strict, but it’s like older policies that prohibit people from smoking indoors, Orlando said.
“It’s going to be a cultural change over time,” he said. “It seems strange and outrageous to some people right now, but in a few years it will seem strange to have ever smoked on campus at all.”
D.J. Halford, 22, is an employee of Shands at UF and has been smoking cigarettes for years. He said changing his habits at work will be difficult and kind of annoying, but he accepts the university’s oversight.
“It’s like a restaurant,” he said. “I think they’re allowed to say what can and can’t be done on their property. It’ll definitely help me cut back, although I haven’t quit yet and I don’t really want to.”
The first phase of UF’s tobacco ban began Nov. 1 at UF’s Health Science Center and all Shands at UF facilities. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium went smoke-free Sept. 5 by eliminating its smoking areas.

From alligator.org, By KATHERINE BEIN, June 29, 2010

A federal judge in Maine, sentencing a 32-year-old former Boston firefighter on a marijuana-growing charge this week, noted that the man had admitted smoking about 2 ounces of the drug each week during the time he worked as a firefighter, prosecutors said.
The comments came when Sean Berte was sentenced Thursday by US District Judge George Z. Singal in Portland to eight months in prison for his role in cultivating more than 100 marijuana plants, US Attorney Paula D. Silsby’s office said yesterday in a statement.

“At the sentencing, the court noted that in addition to pleading guilty to cultivating the marijuana, the defendant admitted smoking approximately two ounces of marijuana [weekly] during the eight years the defendant was employed as a Boston firefighter,’’ prosecutors said. “The court noted that the defendant’s drug usage during his employment violated the respect and trust the public has in firefighters.’’

The judge was commenting on a presentencing report prepared by the US Probation and Pretrial Services System, said Assistant US Attorney Daniel J. Perry, who prosecuted the case. Such reports are not public documents. While the judge spoke of Berte’s using the drug during the years he worked as a firefighter, “There’s no information in the record to suggest that he consumed drugs while on duty,’’ Perry said.

The plants were discovered after police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed a search warrant at a home in Bridgton, Maine, on May 29, 2009. In addition to marijuana plants and harvested marijuana, prosecutors said, the agents recovered objects such as grow lights, timers, an exhaust vent, and various agricultural products.

Berte resigned from his firefighter job shortly after the search was conducted. He pleaded guilty to the charge in February.

Berte was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Silsby’s office said that both the conviction and the sentence were significant because they sent a strong message that those who grow marijuana in Maine will be prosecuted and face severe punishment.

“He accepted full responsibility, took his punishment like a man, and apologized to his family and to the court for his mistakes,’’ said Berte’s defense attorney, Philip A. Tracy Jr. “He hopes to return to be a productive member of society and rebuild his relationship with his family.’’ Tracy had no further comment.

From boston.com, June 29, 2010, By Martin Finucane

Nasir Hakeem, the owner of Tandoor Indian Restaurant is making a place that adult smokers (over 21) in Clarksville can appreciate; a place Downtown they can go to relax, and socially smoke. “I want to bring more people into downtown Clarksville, and at the same time expand the cultural diversity that our community has to offer people looking to relocate into the area.” said Hakeem.
The business is strategically located at 138 University Blvd, the former location of Retro’s Arcade; just a short walk from the Austin Peay State University main campus, and in close proximity to University Landing Apartments. The hookah bar will open on Friday June 25th 2010, with a grand opening/ribbon cutting planned for July 1st.

The hookah bar will offer a wide variety of flavored tobacco’s that smokers can enjoy via soothing water pipes, along with a variety of Mediterranean style foods, beer, & sodas and other drinks including traditional Turkish style coffee. The store is open from 11:00am till 11:00pm however they will be closed on Mondays. They will be serving food all day. Please note all seating is in the traditional Majlis style where everyone sits in a booth on the floor up against soft and colorful cushions.
Some of the special amenities that the Hookah bar will be offering include Arabic Television and Sports Channels on located TVs scattered throughout the bar; Free Wifi; on Friday and Saturday evenings, they plan to have live belly dancing; and there will also be pool tables available.
This will be his second offering of the Hookah in Clarksville, Hakeem’s first was closed after an electrical fault in a sign triggered a fire that destroyed his original Indian Restaurant & Hookah Bar in November of 2007.
Hakeem wants everyone to, “Come out and experience a different culture, our unique food, and the relaxing atmosphere that you will find no where else in Clarksville! There no longer any need for Clarksville Residents to drive all the way to Nashville to enjoy the Hookah!”

From clarksvilleonline.com, June 29, 2010, By Bill Larson

With Valentino Rossi out until mid-August at the earliest, his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo has quietly moved to the top of the Moto GP ladder, taking his fourth win out of six races at the classic Assen track in the Netherlands last weekend. Lorenzo was fastest in every session, took pole, got hounded for a bit by Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and a resurgent Casey Stoner on the Marlboro Ducati, but then as his harder rear tire came in he simply motored off into the distance. Stoner pounded on Pedrosa for a while but couldn’t get past, finally fading back to finish third, his first podium of the year.

Stoner and Pedrosa both benefited from great starts, while Ben Spies on his Tech 3 Yamaha also got a superb jump, quickly moving into second behind Lorenzo and holding up Pedrosa and Stoner for several laps. He eventually finished an excellent fourth, proving that his podium third place in the U.K. the previous weekend was no fluke.

With a 47-point series lead at the one-third point in the series, Lorenzo is looking strong for the 2010 title, particularly with Rossi out of the picture indefinitely and nobody else able to consistently match his pace.

A dark horse for “most improved rider of the year” has to be Randy de Puniet, on the LCR Honda team, the smallest and most cash-strapped team on the circuit. De Puniet was near the top of the time sheets both at Silverstone and here at Assen, and had a wrestling-match style battle with Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso in the last few laps for sixth. Despite obvious traction problems from badly worn tires, de Puniet passed the factory bike several times, and only just missed out on fifth in the last corner, to his obvious fury and frustration.

Nicky Hayden, on the second Ducati, had his worst outing of the year, finishing seventh. He had an okay start but got blocked in the first turn and lost a lot of time both there and getting past the blockers, and by then he could do nothing about the leaders despite running at nearly their pace.

Silly season has started early this year, with chit-chat and rumours about 2011 taking more blog and magazine space than the actual racing. All four of the “aliens” — Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, and Stoner — have contracts ending this year, as in fact do many of the other riders. That makes the game of musical chairs even more active than it usually is.

The latest rumour is that Stoner has decided to leave Ducati for Honda, who are desperate for somebody who can win consistently (Pedrosa and Dovizioso just haven’t delivered the goods). Honda sponsor Repsol insists on a Spanish rider, so Pedrosa’s seat is probably safe, except that Ducati has been chasing him.

Over at Yamaha, Rossi has been asked to take a big salary cut of several million euros as part of an austerity budget. He was apparently willing to consider it until he found out that his cut would go to double Lorenzo’s salary; now he’s not a happy camper. Back in Italy, Philip Morris (Marlboro cigarettes, Ducati’s main sponsor) would kill to get Rossi on a Ducati, and have reportedly offered him 15 million Euros to join the squad. If Rossi does that, suddenly Pedrosa is more or less stuck with Honda, unless he moves to Yamaha. But since he and Lorenzo don’t get along …

From cmgonline.com, by Larry Tate, June 29, 2010