Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/566084
14 tobaccoasia FRONT PAGE NEWS 卷首新闻 US Jury Awards $11M A Florida state court jury recently awarded US$11 million in damages to a woman who alleged that her years of smoking caused her to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that resulted in two lung transplants. The jury's award included US$7.795 million in compensatory damages and US$3.205 million in punitive damages. Elaine Jordan, who began smoking in 1963 as a 14-year old, quit in 2002 after her first lung transplant, years after having been diagnosed with COPD, in 1993. She has since undergone the second lung transplant because of the disease. She claims Philip Morris conspired with other tobacco companies to hide the dangers of smoking cigarettes for many years, ultimately causing her addiction and lung disease. The Jordan case is one of thousands of similar Florida lawsuits against the country's tobacco companies. The cases arise from a 2006 Florida Supreme Court decision decertifying Engle v. Liggett Group Inc., a class action lawsuit originally filed in 1994. Although the state's supreme court ruled each plaintiff's case must be tried individually, it found plaintiffs could rely on certain jury findings in the original verdict, including the determination that tobacco companies had placed a dangerous, addictive product on the market and had hidden the dangers of smoking. The jurors were asked to award US$22 million in punitive damages. Ultimately, the jury's $3.205 million punitive verdict brought the total award to $11 million. China Volunteer Enforcers Mobilized Nearly 10,000 volunteers were mobilized to help the enforce- ment of a blanket smoking ban in Beijing, which took effect on June 1. Two months after Beijing introduced the new smoking ban local authorities describe the control efforts as satisfactory, but are encouraging more people to join the anti-smoking team to ease the shortage of law enforcement personnel. There are more than 4 million smokers in the city, but only around 1,000 law enforcement personnel to police the anti-smoking ban. Zhang Jianshu, head of Beijing Association on Tobacco Control says they are now recruiting volunteers to support the smoking ban. Nearly 10,000 people have registered online so far. The registration system is still open to the public. Those registered will receive training before they start working. Mei Hongguang, vice director of Beijing Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee calls on more people to join the team to stop smokers from lighting up. "We have 1.8 million enterprises and institutions in Beijing, and more than 4 million smokers," said Mei. "Based on those huge figures, a smoking ban in the city is an unprecedented job. Before June 1, many people doubted whether we could make it or not. Now, two months have passed, everybody has seen the progress." US Small Companies Under Threat The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently deciding whether or not to consider liquid nicotine a tobacco product. If it does, the makers of the vaping liquids would be subject to a rigorous review process that would include providing the FDA with detailed information about ingredi- ents, manufacturing processes, and potential health effects. But some vaping startups say that pending FDA regulation of e-cigarettes could put them out of business, leaving only the big tobacco firms because the additional cost of complying with the new rules would be too much for them to take on. Some, like the president of the American Vaping Associa- tion, predict that 99% of small vaping businesses would shutter as a result. Those who sell and distribute them worry that FDA requirements favor the large tobacco companies that have the resources to deal with the red tape, and who are already competing in the e-cig market. If the FDA does extend tobacco regulation to cover liquid nicotine, manufacturers would have two years to comply with the new rules, which may give them sufficient time and not drain resources needed to stay in business. UK Students Prefer Marijuana Over Tobacco A new study has found that people think tobacco is more harmful than marijuana, and most think the latter should be legalized. The survey of 1,000 people found that "over half of young people think cannabis should be legal, whilst 50.9% think that tobacco should be illegal." This comes as more research into the medical properties of cannabis is undertaken, and several states in the US experience an economic boost from legalizing the drug with little to no adverse effects on crime. The study was conducted by Student Money Saver from its Facebook followers. While the methodology of this study might not stand up to serious scientific scrutiny it does show the prevailing mindset among the country's students. Other key findings the survey produced: • 25% of people under 30 believe alcohol should be illegal; • less than half of people think tobacco should be legal; • more people thought cannabis should be legal than tobacco; • 51% of people between 18 and 30 know someone with an alcohol problem; • 45.8% of students agree or strongly agree that there is a drug culture at their university; • over half of young people who participated think that cannabis should be legal; • young people buying drugs from dealers do not feel safe whilst doing so; • 19% of respondents have had a blackout due to drugs or alcohol within the last year.